Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu, accused of organizing anti-government protests in Emali Township along Mombasa road, has been released on Ksh70,000 cash bail.
Appearing before Makindu Resident Magistrate Jackline Karani, Mbilu led by his lawyers including his Kitui counterpart Kelvin Kinengo denied the charges pressed on him.
"On the morning of 19th day of July 2023, along Nairobi- Mombasa highway within Nzaui Sub County, Makueni County with others before court took part in a riot," the charge sheet reads in part.
Mbilu was arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday, July 24, 2023, after he surrendered himself at Wote Police station and later ferried to an unknown destination till Tuesday when he was presented in court.
After his arrest, the Makueni County Assembly suspended its sitting to look for their speaker since he was taken to an unknown place following a motion moved by deputy majority leader Francis Mutuku Musso.
Musso, who was also arrested in connection with the same anti-government protests in Emali urged the deputy speaker Francis Mulwa to adjourn the sitting so they may embark on looking for the speaker.
Meanwhile, it emerged that there were fights among the Makueni MCAs with some accusing two of their colleagues of being behind the speaker’s arrest.
Musso claimed Emali ward representative Cosmus Kaleli and his Nguu Masumba counterpart Daniel Musau knew something about recent arrests.
"There are some members of the county assembly am not afraid to say who they are, it is actually member for Emali and the member for Nguu who are actually saying you should arrest so and so," Musso said.
Due to this, Musso said, the House majority leader and majority whip were among leaders, who have gone into hiding for fear of being arrested.
Musso’s words were supported by MCA for Kikumbulyu South Jades Kalunda who pointed out that he will not support anyone who is "not helping the assembly".
Kalunda, a member of the minority side, also said that due to this the two members of the assembly will be removed from the committee leadership they head.
"I will not stand with people who are not helping this assembly, if we have to follow the standing orders we will have to. For you to be a member here and a member of committee it is only justifiable that you are a member of only one committee. So if you are not able to subscribe to the rules of debate and rules of procedure here we will subject you to only one committee" Kalunda said.
Both speaker Douglas Mbilu and the deputy majority leader Francis Mutuku Musso are expected to appear before the same court on August 8, 2023.
