Azimio la Umoja coalition revealed on Tuesday, May 23 that its youth leader, self-proclaimed Bunge la Mwananchi President Calvince Okoth alias Gaucho, was arrested by police officers in Nairobi.
Azimio in a statement noted that Gaucho was accosted by officers at the Central Police Station where he had gone to ask about his phone.
Also according to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communications Phillip Etale, Gaucho had his phone confiscated from a previous arrest prior to the Azimio protests in which he participated. He was accosted by officers at the Central Police Station where he had gone to ask about his phone.
“Calvin Okoth aka Gaucho has been arrested by officers from Nairobi Area (County Hqs) at the Central Police Station where he had gone to inquire about his phone which was confiscated when he was arrested some time back,” stated Etale.
Gaucho alongside Nuru Okanga as well as Charles Ooko MC Olondo who were reportedly arrested on Friday, March 24 were on Tuesday, March 28 set free on a cash bail of Ksh1,000 each.
Azimio’s Movement for Defence of Democracy (MDD) had previously stated that police officers had arrested the trio without specifying any charges.
MDD had demanded their immediate release, noting that police officers had infringed on their rights without outlining possible charges. They also noted that Gaucho was being held at Limuru Police Station in Kiambu County while Okanga was placed under the custody of police officers at Karuri Police Station, also in Kiambu County.
“We are going to those police stations to demand an immediate release of both of them,” an MDD member declared during a press conference.
However, while releasing them on bail on Tuesday, March 28, a Magistrate court in Kiambu ordered that they should not be arrested or detained by the police and if a decision is made to charge them, it should be done in court.
“The Respondents shall each be released on a cash bail of Ksh1,000 with respect to all the charges the state contemplates to bring against each of them as covered in the State’s application herein.
“The Respondents shall not be arrested or detained by the police. If a decision to charge them is made, they shall be summoned to present themselves to court to take plea. There shall be no order as to costs,” read court documents seen by Kisasa News
Gaucho had on Monday, May 22 impressed former President Uhuru Kenyatta who promised to buy him lunch during the Monday, May 22, National Delegates Conference (NDC) at Ngong Race Course.
He was however reprimanded by NARC Kenya party leader Martha Karua over remarks targeting Nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Sabina Chege, which Karua termed derogatory and bordering on gender.
