Kajiado East MP, Peris Tobiko breathed a sigh of relief after a Kajiado High Court extended her anticipatory bail terms until this January 31, following allegations of incitement to violence against workers of Kibini Mining quarry plant in Mash
According to Tobiko’s counsel, the Department of Criminal Investigations cannot be used as a tool of harassing leaders or citizens who demand for their rights.
“It is regrettable your honour, that the DCI upto today are yet to prefer any charges against my client yet the better part of last week they wanted to arrest her and in the spirit of leadership she appeared in person before the County DCI. She was grilled for hours and later her finger prints were taken but still upto today they are yet to press any charges against her,” said her Counsel team.
In his reply, the prosecution appealed to the court to give them more time to interact with the evidence before them so that they can press the befitting charges.
“My Lord, it is my prayer that you may grant us more time to peruse the file of the suspect since we received the file this morning before coming into the court, therefore it is not possible for us to press any charge since we have to ensure that we have a solid case,” the prosecutor told the court.
In his ruling, High Court Judge Rueben Nyakundi directed that the DPP to burn the midnight oil and conclude their investigations before January 31.
“It is hereby directed that the terms of the anticipatory bail will be extended upto that date where we shall resume the hearing of the case,” Nyakundi ordered.
However, MP Peris Tobiko has vowed to continue with her relentless war against the management of East African Portland Cement Company after the firm retrenched at least 600 workers mid last year without payment of their dues.
While Speaking on Monday, after appearing before the Department of DCI, Tobiko told off her opponents who have continued to fight her efforts of seeking justice on behalf of his people stating that she will not be intimidated.
“I am elected as a people representative, so anytime that my constituents come to me and seek help of any kind I must lead from the front because that is my mandate as an elected leader,” Tobiko talked tough. “Therefore no one will stop me from agitating the rights of my own people,” reiterated the legislature.
In the same breadth, 14 youths were later freed after paying a fine of Sh. 5000 after they were found guilty of unlawful assembly at the Kibini Mining quarry plant, Tuesday.
Some of Kajiado County politicians in the recent past have come out to condemn the manner in which the County resources is distributed to benefit the locals.
According to the leaders the locals are not tapping the benefits of the mining resources in the County as the bigger share has been taken over by investors from other regions.
However, on December 2018, Kajiado County Governor, Joseph Lenku and the County Commissioner, David Kipkemei warned the leaders against incitement politics that will destabilize peaceful co-existence amongst the residents.
By Nelly Kosgey and Albert Lemomo
