Eric Omondi Jailed For One Month

Comedian Eric Omondi was on Friday, September 15 sentenced to one month in prison alongside 15 others with an alternative of Ksh10,000 fine.

The comedian was sentenced for creating disturbance outside Parliament buildings for taking part in unlawful assembly by demonstrating over high cost of living.

Milimani chief magistrate Lukas Onyina convicted Omondi and his 15 co-accused after they pleaded guilty.

Eric Omondi during a protest in Nairobi. /ERIC OMONDI

"I have considered the mitigation made and the nature of the offence which is a misdemeanour and the fact that the prosecution has said that they are first-time offenders," the magistrate ruled.

Omondi was charged alongside Peter Mukundi, Elisha Ochieng, Felix Ikutwa, Frank Misango, Alpha Juma, Cyril Isindu, Bonface Bahati, William Leshinka, Walder Sisulu, Philip Kiura, Ken Ndula, Mbwaya Mwale, Duncan Wafula, Rodgers Livoi and Wyclif Ligano on February 21, 2023.

"I have also considered that they have saved the court’s judicial time. Each of the suspects is hereby fined  Ksh10,000 in default to serve one month in jail," added the magistrate.

The 16 were convicted on grounds of staging the protest without notifying the police as required by the law.

In mitigation, the convicts however prayed for a lenient sentence saying they were advocating against the high cost of living and that the sentence should not be too harsh.

"Your honour please be lenient on us so that it would not discourage other activists from advocating for human rights for fear of being met with the lethal force of the law," the court was told.

They were subsequently given a period of 14 days to appeal the court's decision. Initially, they had denied the charges and were released on Ksh10,000 cash bail.

Eric Omondi, in a statement acknowledged his conviction, revealing that he will serve the one  month sentence which will see him stay behind bars for 30 days.

''So I've been Sentenced to one month in prison with these young guys for standing against the high cost of living," he stated, adding ''I will serve that one Month but I know tomorrow will be a brighter day!!!!'' 

Omondi has been at the forefront of leading protests against the high cost of living in the country.

On Thursday, April 6, the comedian had threatened to stage demonstrations from Monday, April 10 for 14 days consecutively until President William Ruto's government prioritizes the right issues, though he did not disclose his starting point.

"I'm a very creative person and I'll not tell you how, but beginning this Monday, I will demonstrate for 14 days straight," he announced.

Omondi, who refers to himself as the “President of Comedy Africa", however did not honour his promise of protesting for 14 days in a row.