Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and Her Bodyguard Charged with Murder of Gumbao Jola

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and her bodyguard Geoffrey Otieno Okuto have been charged with murder.

The two were arraigned before Justice Njoki Mwangi of Mombasa law courts on Thursday where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They are accused of murdering 48-year-old, Gumbao Jola on October 15th, 2019, in Ganda village, Kilifi county.

The defense team led by lawyers Danstan Omari, Jared Magolo, and Cliff Ombeta pleaded with the court to release the accused persons on reasonable bond terms. The prosecution asked for more time to file an affidavit opposing the bail application.

Jumwa and her co-accused were on Monday remanded for three days as they waited to undergo mental assessment.

Jola was shot dead during the Ganda Ward by-election in October 2019 after MP Jumwa and her supporters stormed a meeting organized by Reuben Katana, the ODM candidate in the by-election.

Jumwa, who arrived at the meeting in a convoy of several vehicles, accused Katana of conducting campaigns long after the official campaign window elapsed. Several people including police officers were injured during the ugly confrontation.