Rarieda legislator Otiende Amollo has expressed his support for the suspects in the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal after denial of bail.
In a message sent through his official Twitter handle, the MP who is also a lawyer found fault in the denial of bail for the 43 suspects who are now set to remain in custody until the conclusion of the trial.
"I'm sorry! I cannot celebrate abrogation of hard-fought Constitutional guarantees," he stated
[caption caption="NYS suspects during hearing of the bail application"]
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"There can be no rational reason for blanket denial of bail before culpability of suspects! This blind cheer-leading is dangerous," Amollo concluded.
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior expressed similar sentiments indicating that: "The grant or denial of bail is not automatic and neither is it issued as a matter of course.
"The NYS suspects have a right to challenge the denial of bail at the High Court. All said and done, these cases will be precedent-setting," Senator Mutula noted.
On his part, lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi was equally displeased by the judgment passed by Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti terming him "Misguided magistrate."
"The judiciary should not be "more executive than the executive". The right to bail even for murder is a basic right and a constitutional right," he quipped.
Another renowned lawyer, Nelson Havi, equally faulted the decision stating that: "The unprecedented bail denial for NYS scandal suspects on account of “national security” alters the course of criminal law study and practice."
Senior Counsel Paul Muite indicated that: "We fully support the war on corruption but it can only be sustained if waged within constitutional/legal parameters.
"Bail denial here, understandably popular on account of public anger about corruption, is legally untenable," he concluded.
[caption caption="Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Lilian Mbogo Omollo and NYS Director General Richard Ndubai Milimani Courts "]
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"It will haunt many players in the trial as did similar decisions by Bernard Chunga, Samuel Bosire, and others. Will the High Court uphold it?" he posed.
Majority of tweeps, however, expressed confidence in the move terming it as a firm step on winning the war against graft.
