A supporter of Opposition leader Raila Odinga has been charged for allegedly insulting president William Ruto and deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.
Shadrack Omondi Orwa is also accused of daring police officers at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi’s Eastlands area to arrest him.
Orwa, a staunch ODM supporter, was charged with creating a disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace contrary to Section 95 (1) (b).
He was charged with shouting and uttering the words “Maandamano tutaenda…makarao ni wachache wataumia serious..” to police officers on patrol.
Orwa was also charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly contrary to Section 79 of the penal code after attending a Bunge La Mwananchi meeting at Jacaranda grounds on March 3 this year.
According to the charge sheet, the accused, jointly with others at large, allegedly incited members of the public to cause violence against the police officers patrolling the grounds by threatening to stone them.
Orwa is also said to have used words that are demeaning to the presidency particularly to President Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua –in a way likely to cause a breach of peace.
A video clip of Orwa speaking at the meeting and which went viral on social media has been submitted to the Communication Authority of Kenya for analysis and will be used as an exhibit in the case.
Appearing before Makadara Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia, the suspect denied the charges.
The court released him on a bond of Sh50,000 and an alternative cash bail of Sh20,000.
The case will be mentioned on June 5 ahead of the hearing scheduled for July 17.
