Former Tetu Member of Parliament James Ndung’u Gethenji was on Monday charged with assaulting a security Guard at Kihingo village.
Gethenji appeared before Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku and denied assaulting Godffrey Kirimi Mutua on February 5, 2021.
He was charged after the court issued summons last week for him to plead to the charges.
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Mutuku declined to adjourn the plea as requested by Gethenji’s lawyer Ishmael Nyaribo who claimed that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had recalled the file to review the evidence in the case.
The magistrate ruled that she could not defer the plea any longer since the case has been pending since February.
She said the DPP being an independent office can have the case withdrawn any moment after the accused has pleaded to the offence.
According to the charge sheet, he assaulted Mutua thereby causing him actual bodily harm at Kihingo village Kitsuru in Westlands Sub County.
The former MP was also charged with being in possession of a firearm without a valid certificate.
He allegedly had the said firearm without lawful authority or excuse on February 18, 2021.
His lawyer Nyaribo asked the court to release him on a free bond arguing that the former MP has other pending cases in the same court and therefore not a flight risk.
“We urge the court to indulge him by committing him to free bond for the reason he has really deposited alot of money in court already.We urge you commit the accused on free bond because he is a known accused person,” argued the lawyer.
Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku declined to release him on a free bond and directed he be released on Ksh300,000 bond or a cash bail of Ksh200,000.
