Drama as MP Koimburi cleared of contempt charge, evades arrest

Embattled Juja MP George Koimburi has been cleared of contempt of court charge.

The legislator, who was arraigned at the Kiambu Law Courts a day after he was slapped with six counts of forging academic certificates, did not take a plea on the seventh count of absconding court on six occasions.

Senior Principal Magistrate Mwanamkuu Mwakwambirwa, who quashed the charge, agreed that contempt cannot be considered an offence to plead to, as the matter had been dropped under Section 87A in 2021.

However, the six charges related to forgery remain in force. During the bail application, the prosecution opposed his release, citing that he was a flight risk and had previously skipped court sessions.

In an application supported by an affidavit from an Inspector of Police attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Serious Crime Unit, the DPP argued that the lawmaker was initially charged with forging academic certificates and absconded court on six occasions.

Prosecution Counsels Evelyn Onunga and Benjamin Kelwon told the court the legislator failed to adhere to the terms and conditions of the bail and the court ordered the forfeiture of his cash bail of Ksh.100,000.

Consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued on 6th April 2022 which remained in force until its execution on 18th February 2025.

Further, the prosecution stated that there is a likelihood that the accused person will abscond the court.

“To ensure the ends of justice are met in this case, it is of the prosecution’s view that the accused person be denied bond on the first instance,” explained Onunga.

However, his defence team vehemently opposed the DPP’s request, arguing that as a public officer, he cannot disobey the court, as doing so could result in the loss of his parliamentary seat, among other consequences.

He remains out on a police cash bail he had deposited at Kamukunji of Ksh 200,000. The court is scheduled to rule on the bail application and whether to grant him bail on Tuesday, 25th February.

Meanwhile, drama unfolded immediately after he stepped out of court as DCI officers were waiting to rearrest him.

In the ensuing commotion, the MP made a swift escape on a motorbike.

He has applied for anticipatory bail at the same court pending Tuesday’s ruling.