Mathare activist denies grabbing police officer, challenging him for a fight
By Joseph Ndunda |
Ndichu was among activists and members of the public who had stormed the police station to demand the release of an environmentalist allegedly arrested for trespass and threatening to kill.
An activist at the Mathare Social Justice Centre was charged with creating a disturbance after allegedly grabbing a police officer by his collar and challenging him to a fistfight during protests inside the Mathare police station.
Fred Ndichu is accused of causing chaos in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace at the police station in contravention of section 95 (1) (b) of the Penal Code after allegedly grabbing police constable Alex Ochieng on November 9.
Ndichu was among activists and members of the public who had stormed the police station to demand the release of an environmentalist allegedly arrested for trespass and threatening to kill.
Police say the activist had been released on cash bail from police custody before the crowd stormed the police station.
Ochieng had challenged Ndichu to stop filming the police station during the commotion.
Ndichu is said to have been armed with a knife during the incident that happened on Saturday night but the same was reportedly recovered after he was subdued by police officers and arrested.
The officers alleged that the filming of the station at night was a security threat and posed a terror threat to them.
Ndichu told Senior Resident Magistrate Stephanie Bett of the Makadara Law Courts through an advocate that he is a climate change activist and he was among those pushing for the release of an activist arrested for planting trees along the Nairobi River. He denied the charges of unruly behaviour.
He told the court that his mobile phone had been confiscated by the police and sought an order for the release of the same.
Ndichu was released on a personal bond and ordered to avail two contact persons who will be reached out in case he fails to attend the trial.
The case will be mentioned on January 25 before the hearing starts on April 16, 2025. PC Ochieng and other police officers on duty are listed as witnesses in the case.
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