A Kabarnet court on Tuesday, November 15, issued an ultimatum to Baringo County Woman Representative Florence Jematia after skipping court proceedings on her incitement case twice.
Chief Magistrate Judith Wanjala while intervening in a clash that ensued between the prosecution counsel and defence team, noted that the case had been delayed and ordered that the accused be arraigned before the court in the next hearing failure to which the court will proceed without her.
Prosecution counsel led by Joseck Abwajo had requested for a warrant of arrest for the accused, saying that she had violated the law by skipping court proceedings.
Also Read:
Agitated Abwajo claimed that the defence counsel was sabotaging the case by citing itinerary issues, therefore, hampering the court from delivering justice.
He said that they incur a lot of expenses to present the witnesses lined up to testify in the case and urged the court not to tolerate any further delays.
Defence counsel, Tunen Manase, told the court that his client was held up in matters of national importance and that his request to have the matter postponed till next year was because her itinerary was fixed.
“Your honour, my client has no opposition to attending court proceedings. I ask this court to allow us to arraign her in court next year in January. She, however, does not scheme itineraries to delay the case as said,” Manase said.
The MP was arrested and arraigned in court in February for allegedly issuing inciting statements in a public gathering in Mochongoi, Baringo County.
She was captured in a 40-second video calling for a fund drive to aid gun purchases to arm villagers, facing threats from marauding bandits.
She is said to have made the remarks during an interdenominational prayer meeting at Lamaiywe, an area plagued by cattle rustling activities.
The court directed the MP to appear in court on January 11 for the hearing of the case.
“I have heard from the prosecution counsel and I, therefore, order that the accused be arraigned in court on January 11, and 12 consecutively when the case will come for hearing, failure to which we will proceed without her, “Wanjala ordered
