Standard Media Group Issues Statement on Boss Arrested With Explosive

Standard Media Group Chief of Staff Laban Cliff Onserio at a past event
Standard Media Group Chief of Staff Laban Cliff Onserio at a past event
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The Standard Media Group issued a statement on one of their senior manager, Laban Cliff Onserio, who was caught with a grenade at a popular church in Nairobi. 

In a statement dated Monday, December 19, the media house acknowledged that the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit apprehended the Company's Chief of Staff and anchor on Sunday, December 18.

"According to the court documents filed in court, Onserio was arrested in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD)," read the statement in parts.

However, from the statement, the media house refrained from mentioning the cause of arrest for the former NTV anchor.

File image of Standard Group Plc's Mombasa Road Headquarters in Nairobi
File image of Standard Group Plc's Mombasa Road Headquarters in Nairobi
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It, however, emphasised that it would wait for the investigation report prior to making an informed decision. 

"The Company remains committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all its stakeholders in all its premises," read the statement in parts.

Furthermore, it vowed to abide by due process as the law prescribes.

According to the court documents filed at the Kahawa Courts by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI), the journalist failed to disclose he had a grenade in his car while passing the security check area. 

He also failed to satisfactorily reveal the reason he was in possession of a flashbang training system grenade

Onserio was further accused of accruing the grenade in 2021 from a British national currently working with an airline company in Kenya.

Consequently, the detectives seized the device and forwarded it to the Bomb disposal and hazardous unit for forensic examinations.

"His cell phones were forwarded to the ICT laboratory for forensic examination and analysis to determine whether there were any links to terrorism," read the court documents in part.

DCI further sought to detain Onserio for five days to conduct investigations as he was believed to be in possession of more explosives.

An undated photo of KTN Chief of Staff Laban Cliff Onserio at NTV studios.
An undated photo of KTN Chief of Staff Laban Cliff Onserio at NTV studios.
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