Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili Alias Babu Owino on Monday, November 23, came to the aid of a boda boda rider who had been detained in prison.
The first-time legislator delivered a pleasant surprise after he settled Ksh1 Million cash bail for the rider securing his release.
"Yesterday (Monday) I paid a cash bail of Ksh1 million shillings to my constituent who is a boda boda operator.
The rider had been arrested when he was found transporting elephant tusks for a client.
"Two months ago, he was commissioned to deliver goods by a client and on his way, he was stopped by police officers who searched the package he was carrying and found elephant tasks which led to his arrest, arraignment and was eventually taken to Kajiado Prison," Owino stated.
According to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, it is illegal for any person who keeps or is found in possession of a wildlife trophy or deals in a wildlife trophy or manufactures any item from a trophy without a permit.
Any person who contravenes the stipulations, "commits an offense and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than Ksh1 million or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both such imprisonment and fine," the Act reads in part.
The rider is expected to appear in court on January 12, 2021.
Other legislators who have gone out of their way to help prisoners include Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi who on September 14, spent Ksh 300,000 to pay fines and bail for remandees at Nakuru Police Station.
The legislator also bought his cellmates mattresses and jackets.
While at Kamiti Prison, Sirisia MP John Waluke settled the fines for 57 inmates after discovering some of the inmates were serving time because they could not raise fines as little as Ksh 1,000.
The MP made the payment on Monday, September 28, the same day he was freed from the prison on a Ksh10 million cash bail or an alternative Ksh20 million bond.
