Court grants CEC anticipatory bond over blogger's assault

Mombasa Lands CEC Mohammed Hussein. [File, Standard]

The High Court in Mombasa has granted anticipatory bond to Mombasa Lands CEC Mohammed Hussein aka Amadoh in connection with the assault and sodomy of Mombasa based blogger.

Justice Wendy Micheni granted the CEC a bond of Sh1 million, one surety and one contact person or a cash bail of Sh500,000 and two contact persons should the Director of Public Prosecutions DPP decide to charge him with assault and sodomy of the blogger.

Justice Micheni ordered Hussein to deposit his passport in court and not to leave the court's jurisdiction.

The Judge ordered the CEC to avail himself before the Director of Criminal Investigations.

Justice Micheni said should the Director of Public Prosecution DPP decide to charge Hussein, he should be released on the said bond terms.

She ordered that investigations against Hussein be complete within six months.

A gory video clip of a man yelling in agony as his captors sexually assaulted sparked outrage among human rights activists and Kenyans on social media, pushing for the arrest of the culprits.

The shocking video shows a man resembling a Mombasa-based blogger, who was recently abducted cursing why he criticised Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir.

The sobbing man begs his assailants to stop degrading him, swearing that he will never abuse Nassir.

But the captors are heard saying that assaulting him sexually is meant to be “a lesson to those disrespecting the governor’’.

Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo said the incident was a pointer to worrisome leadership of the country.

She said the action was inhumane and asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to ensure the all the perpetrators were held accountable.

“No humanity, no conscience, no regard or respect for the sanctity of human life, rights and liberty,”she said, adding that the incident of September 12 was a fragrant violation of the blogger’s constitutionally protected rights including the right to personal security, freedom of expression, and dignity as enshrined in article 28, 29 and 33 of the Constitution of Kenyan 2010.

 “We call for the full protection of the victim, and we demand the independence of the judiciary be upheld without fear, favour and external interference,” said Odhiambo.

A DCI officer told court that the blogger had posted a TikTok video of himself criticising the governor’s interaction with Mombasa Woman Rep Zamzam Mohammed.

Nassir confirmed that he and his mother were summoned by the DCI to record a statement about the incident.