Esther Passaris’ continued efforts in promoting the welfare of the common mwananchi suffered a setback recently after Kenyans on social media expressed outrage after the Nairobi Woman Rep facilitated the release of a convict.
Taking to her official Twitter account on Tuesday, Passaris documented the release of a matatu driver, Ben Opilo. The city driver was sentenced for obstruction of traffic and locked up at the Nairobi West Prison.
In a clip shared via Passaris’ Twitter handle, the woman rep is seen outside the prison with the family of the jailed driver as they waited for his release. The video goes on to capture the moment Ben Opilo emerged from the prison and reunited with his family.
According to Passaris, it was absurd that the State threw the father of three in jail for obstruction.
“At Nairobi West Prison for the release of Ben Opilo, father of 3 and matatu driver, whose only offense was obstruction. I find it absurd that the State would readily throw a breadwinner behind bars instead of looking into alternatives with better outcomes for his family,” tweeted Passaris.
The moved elicited mixed reactions, with a majority of Kenyans on Twitter expressing outrage for the release of a convicted offender.
Below are some sampled reactions:
Why bail an offender?
— Tumechanuka (@tumechanuka) July 10, 2018
Obstruction is an offense, shouldn’t the guy serve time for that? Hawa ndio sumbua kwa barabara na lazima washikiswe adabu! Or am I missing something ….
— Charles Ngano (@charlesngano) July 10, 2018
Hon Passaris good gesture but don’t forget too fast that this group are the most uncouth & bad behaved grown men we have input roads today. Jail all matatu touts & drivers if they don’t reform.
— lazarus okello (@mitpiny) July 10, 2018
To end corruption we have to start with those obstructing,overlapers n other offenders
— Dixie Miano (@dixie_miano) July 10, 2018
Bail out mat driver for obstructing?? Don’t think it’s a deserving case
— Bernard Kiprotich (@BernardKiprotic) July 10, 2018
This is what is called misplaced priorities
— Thomas Karanja (@tkaranja14) July 10, 2018
Why not fight for those whom he obstructed
— lameck (@LesPatriot) July 10, 2018
Umekuwa busy saaaaana mama. Good job.
— UhuRuto is axis of evil [?] NRM (@swedenhill) July 10, 2018
This nonsense of sympathizing with traffic offenders should come to an end. Why overlap? Was he the only one who was stuck in traffic jam? Let’s respect the rule of law
— AGEGE TRENDAFILOVA (@aat_prof) July 10, 2018
Obstruction is an offense, shouldn’t the guy serve time for that? Hawa ndio sumbua kwa barabara na lazima washikiswe adabu! Or am I missing something ….
— Charles Ngano (@charlesngano) July 10, 2018
This is the order of the day in Kenyan prisons! The rogue police more so traffic collude with court magistrates and judges to infringe on Kenyans rights…
— Amakanji Thomas (@AmakanjiThomas) July 10, 2018
Mama Taa on this one I disagree, Yes we do have a lopsided justice system where the poor are sentenced immediately and harshly, BUT obstruction is still a punishable offense, they should NOT be excused for breaking the law!
— W M (@WaithakaMugo) July 10, 2018
Obstruction is the number 1 cause of traffic jams in nairobi
— JM (@DukeofAnfield) July 10, 2018
Stop populist moves.
— kibe maina (@kibemaina3) July 10, 2018
