Drama as Lawyers Abandon MP Jumwa in Ksh 20M Graft Case

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa in court in October 2019 after being charged with murder and incitement to violence
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa in court in October 2019 after being charged with murder and incitement to violence
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Lawyers representing Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa withdrew their services leaving the lawmaker stranded in court over the Ksh20 million graft case facing her.

Lawyers Danstan Omari, Jared Magolo, Shadrack Wamboi, and Titus Kirui walked out of court accusing the prosecution of ambushing them with new charges on Monday, August 9.

Omari stated that they were not able to take instructions from their client after the court decided to amend the charges.

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa speaking durnig an event in 2018.
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa speaking during an event in 2018.
Daily Nation

The move left Jumwa stranded asking the court to grant her one week to source for a new team of lawyers.

The amended charge sheet read that Jumwa and the co-accused conspired to defraud the Malindi National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) of Ksh19 million.

In 2019, Jumwa was charged with stealing Ksh20 million which was different from what was read in court yesterday.

Her lawyers applied for an adjournment of the case but Chief Magistrate Edna Nyaloti declined to offer them time to re-group before the proceeding of the case.

"This is trial by ambush. We urge the matter to be adjourned," said Omari.

The legal team stated that the new charges carried heavy repercussions on their client.

"Since we cannot take any instructions from our clients as it is, we seek to withdraw our legal representation and have them look for new counsel," Omari made it clear.

Jumwa is charged alongside six others including Wachu Omar Abdalla (Malindi CDF Account Manager), Kennedy Otieno Onyango, Bernard Riba Kai, Sophia Saidi Charo, and Margaret Faith Kalume, who are members of the Malindi Tender Evaluation Committee, as well as Robert Katana Wanje, a Director of Multserve Contractors Limited.

They have been charged with 13 offenses including forgery, fraud in procurement and money laundering.

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa (right) and her Msambweni counterpart Suleiman Dori (left) addressing the press at Park Hotel, Nairobi, on January 24, 2019.
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa (right) and her Msambweni counterpart Suleiman Dori (left) addressing the press at Park Hotel, Nairobi, on January 24, 2019.
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