Kitale High Court has ordered the reinstating of West Pokot Governor, John Lonyangapuo’s security detail on the grounds that it is a constitutional benefit to every State officer.
Governor Lonyangapuo’s security detail was withdrawn on Friday after he stormed a police road block and stopped Traffic police officers from arresting a boda boda rider.
On Monday, Justice Hillary Chemitei banned the government from arresting and detaining the Governor.
“This court grants the petitioner with Anticipatory bail of Sh200,000 to cover the impending arrest or detention of the petitioner by the respondents based on an incident whose facts are narrated on the petition filed,” he ruled.
Read: Three Chinese Nationals Involved In SGR Ticket Scandal Denied Bail
Governor Lonyangapuo filed a petition against Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinet and Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji.
Through his lawyer, Peter Wanyama, Governor Lonyangapuo says that he was speaking out in an incident of “extreme police brutality and abuse of fundamental rights of residents of West Pokot”.
“I enquired from the traffic officers about the issue but they didn’t offer any reasons why they were detaining the said Leonard Powen in cruel and inhumane manner and not taking him to court if they thought he had violated traffic laws,” he states in the application.
“The respondents are restrained from taking action against him,’’ the judge ruled.
The case hearing has been set for December 13.
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