Mombasa Republican Council leader Omar Mwamnuadzi and Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko outside the Mombasa Law Courts at a past event. Photo/ nairobinews.nation.co.ke
A court has declared Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) leader Omar Mwamnuadzi missing ending several months of speculations about his whereabouts. Omar, who has been missing since April last year, landed Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko in trouble after failing to attended court proceedings. Efforts by police officers to arrest Omar have also proven futile despite the issuance of warrants of arrest against him. The Coast General Hospital confirmed that the documents presented to the courtroom alleging that he was sick and admitted at the hospital were fake and belonged to a different person.On Friday, Sonko told the court he has not managed to trace Omar despite sending his private detectives to Tanzania where he was thought to be hiding.State Prosecutor Jami Yenina asked the court to decide whether or not to forfeit the Sh1 million the senator had given as surety after failing to present the suspect before the court as required of him.“There is no connection indicating that Mwamnuadzi was entertained by the Senator to disappear. It is the court’s discretion to justify if the surety has shown sufficient case to remain standing surety or have his surety forfeited,” Yenina said.The prosecution side also said that they hope the Senator does not withdraw surety for the other members of the group.“For us we hope Sonko does not withdraw out of the case as surety for the other accused MRC members as it will lead to further delay,” he said. The court ruled that the only remedy towards the case if forfeiting Sonko’s surety.“The only remedy after an accused has absconded court is to forfeit whatever surety had deposited in court. We cannot continue to delay the case further,”said Resident Magistrate Edgar Kagoni.