Shadrack Wambui: Court Grants Lawyer Bail after Fears of Political Arrest over Rongai Protests
- City lawyer and rights advocate Shadrack Wambui was granted anticipatory bail by the High Court in Nairobi following fears of a politically motivated arrest
- The court ruled that Wambui’s constitutional rights must be safeguarded as investigations continue
- His legal team said they smelled foul play from threats and inflammatory remarks from a local MP, combined with a suspicious DCI summons
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Shadrack Wambui finally caught a break from what he described as growing political pressure and threats to his freedom.
Source: UGC
The city lawyer and civic rights advocate was granted anticipatory bail by the High Court in Nairobi on Friday, June 27.
The decision followed claims that he was facing an imminent and politically motivated arrest over his role in organising peaceful protests in Ongata Rongai on Tuesday, June 25.
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The ruling, delivered virtually by Lady Justice Diana Kavedza, followed an urgent application filed by Wambui, who chairs Sheria Mtaani na Shadrack Wambui, a registered public interest organisation.
The judge certified the petition as urgent and set the anticipatory bail at KSh 100,000, noting that his fundamental rights must be preserved even as investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) proceed.
Did Shadrack Wambui organise Rongai protests?
According to court documents seen by TUKO.co.ke, Wambui argued that the protest, which focused on governance and economic issues, had been held lawfully under Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to assemble, demonstrate, and picket peacefully.
However, the event was reportedly hijacked by unidentified individuals who caused chaos and allegedly attempted to attack Wambui, forcing him to flee and seek refuge in Mathare.
In his sworn affidavit, Wambui claimed that shortly after the protest, a local member of Parliament made comments on social media that insinuated he had incited the violence.
He said these remarks, which he deemed inflammatory and defamatory, heightened fears of a politically motivated arrest.
Why was Shadrack Wambui granted anticipatory bail?
His organisation is said to have issued a formal demand for the MP to retract the statements, but no response had been received by the time the case was heard.
While delivering the ruling, Justice Kavedza clarified that the court’s role at this stage was not to establish the truthfulness of the allegations against Wambui but to uphold constitutional protections.
She stressed that under Article 49(1) of the Constitution, every person has the right to be released on bail, unless compelling reasons exist to deny that right.
The court, she said, must act as a guardian of fundamental rights, particularly when the circumstances appear politically charged.
The court’s decision has provided Wambui with a temporary shield from arrest, giving him space to prepare for any further legal steps.
Source: Original
Was Shadrack Wambui summoned by DCI?
TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that Wambui claimed security agencies had plotted to arrest him on a Friday, a tactic often used to detain individuals through the weekend when court access is limited.
He viewed the move as part of a recurring pattern where law enforcement is used to frustrate dissent under the pretext of maintaining order. He also expressed concern that such arrests expose activists to harm and delay justice.
Wambui further questioned a summons he received from the DCI, calling it suspicious and likely a disguise for a planned detention.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
