3 Raila Diehards Including Nuru Okanga, Gaucho Freed on Ksh1,000 Cash Bail
MDD had demanded their immediate release, noting that police officers had infringed on their rights without outlining possible charges.
Marvin Chege 
Azimio la Umoja loyalists, Calvin Gaucho and Nuru Okanga as well as Charles Ooko MC Olondo who were reportedly arrested on Friday, March 24 have been 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.
Azimio loyalists Calvin Gaucho, Nuru Okanga and Charles Ooko MC Olondo while in handcuffs. /TWITTER
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.
The MDD officials also stated that they were equally ready to be arrested together with their colleagues.
"You should expand the space in the holding cells in order to accommodate all of us because we are going to those police stations," MDD noted, accusing the police of acting on a pure witchhunt as the duo did not commit any known criminal offence.
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 Viral Tea.
The three are also known to be members of the Bunge la Mwananchi movement. Gaucho is the Bunge La Mwananchi President while Nuru Okanga is a popular protester who frequented Azimio La Umoja rallies.
The National Police Service (NPS) was yet to issue a statement on the arrest of the Azimio diehards who are believed to be playing a key role in the demonstrations.
Azimio party leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday, March 22, announced that Azimio la Umoja Coalition would hold bi-weekly protests on Mondays and Thursdays. However, Inspector General of Police (IG) Japhet Koome had declared the protests illegal, on the eve they were supposed to happen.
The United States (US) through Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State Vedant Patel condemned the move, stating that Kenya has the right to freedom of expression and association, which are core tenets of democracy.
Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State Vedant Patel during a media address. /FILE
