Wetangula's Bodyguard Charged with Causing Disturbance at the Supreme Court
National Super Alliance co-principal Moses Wetangula's bodyguard was on Wednesday arraigned in court to face charges of causing a disturbance outside the Supreme Court on Monday.
Simon Lonyia was charged with creating disturbance, blocking a police officer from carrying his duty and forcing his way into Supreme Court in possession of a firearm.
The bodyguard is alleged to have pushed Central Police division OCPD Robinson Thuku at the entrance of the court on August 28.
He appeared before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi on Wednesday and was released on a personal bond of Sh20,000 after he denied the charge. Lonyia is being represented by lawyer Eunice Lumallas. His case will be heard on September 18.
Constable Simon Lonyang spent Monday night at Central Police Station before he was picked by his seniors from the General Service Unit VIP protection unit for disciplinary process known as orderly room proceedings.
Nairobi Central OCPD Harrison Thuku said the bodyguard had been suspended from the service and will be taken to court to face charges of causing disturbance.
"He was picked up by GSU personnel for the procedure of being dismissed from the service and we expect to see him in court probably on Wednesday," he said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Joel Kitili on Tuesday evening dismissed claims that Lonyang had been sacked. He said disciplinary procedures had not been concluded.
A witness ,however, said Lonyang did not touch the officer as claimed.
"He was there to protect a VIP and all the other officers needed to tell him was how to handle himself. We had many other bodyguards, including those attached to the judges, who came in with their weapons. It is all political," an officer said.
The incident generated a bitter quarrel between police, Wetang'ula and NASA leader Raila Odinga as the politicians confronted the officers heading the team manning the gate.
Wetang'ula on Tuesday claimed that his bodyguard was unlawfully dismissed and threatened to move to the court over the matter.
Comments
I know this poor policeman…
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I know this poor policeman should have known better and not defy the orders but who should actually carry the heaviest penalty? Shouldn't Wetangula be the first to carry the cross since it was him insisting that his bodyguard should be allowed in? At least two people should be in court for this offence Wetangula being one of them if not the entire scuffling group including Raila. This policeman must have been caught in between obeying the officers at the gate and the boss he is seconded to guard. What he forgot was that his employer is the police force and not Wetangula. He should have known that he was guarding Wetangula at the instructions of the police department. What was Wetangula being guarded against anyway at the supreme court that was already heavily guarded given the nature of dignitaries and business going on in there? No other dignitary including Raila had their bodyguards in there - the courtroom was not even enough for all "important" individuals who wanted to be there let alone their bodyguards. So, what did Wetandula think was special about him? The last time I checked he was a lawyer and therefore should know better. The least the policeman (Lonya) could have suffered for not obeying Wetangula and therefore not forcing his way in the court compound was to be pulled from guarding Wetangula at Wetangula's request. He would have kept his job and possibly promoted for obeying his employer. But by obeying a self centered and disrespectful politician in the expense of disobeying his employer, he has lost his paycheck and possibly will serve a jail term. It could have been fair to charge Wetangula as well.
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