DPP Withdraws Terror Charges Against KTN Journalist Laban-Cliff Onserio

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has withdrawn terror charges against journalist Laban-Cliff Onserio, citing insufficient evidence.

Kahawa law courts magistrate Boaz Ombewa marked the file as closed after the DPP withdrew the charges, according to the journalist’s attorney Ishmael Nyaribo.

Onserio, who is the Standard Group Media Chief of Staff, was arrested in December 2022 for allegedly being in possession of a stun grenade and threatening to use it to attack security guards at Holy Family Basilica.

“(He) was arrested on 18/12/2022 by a multi-agency team who responded at the scene after receiving information through IC3 police control room that there was a terror threat at Holy Family Basilica,” reads court documents.

The journalist had gone to pick up his car at the cathedral’s commercial parking lot when an altercation ensued.

Police said Onserio could not give satisfactory reasons why he was in possession of the flash-bang grenade nor produce a certificate allowing him to be in possession of the device.

“At the time of arrest, the respondent had not made a declaration to the security guards that he was in possession of the flash-bang training system grenade,” police said.

Onserio is said to have told detectives that he acquired the grenade from British national Don Smith, purportedly working with Fly 540 airline, in 2021.