Korogocho Member of County Assembly (MCA) Absalom Odhiambo, popularly known as Matakwey, was on Monday, February 6, freed by a Nairobi Court on Ksh100,000 cash bail.
The MCA pleaded not guilty to two charges leveled against him of incitement to violence.
Odhiambo was arrested for a second time over charges of incitement on Saturday, February 4, just a day after the court ordered for his unconditional release.
On the first account, Odhiambo was charged with incitement following statements he made on January 25, 2022, while addressing opposition members at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation House - Capital Hill in Kilimani, Nairobi County.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) further accused Odhiambo of acting in offensive conduct explaining that he made a suggestion to the opposition leaders to get President William Ruto Out of the State House.
Earlier on February 1, Milimani Court magistrate Gilbert Shikwe ordered the MCA's unconditional release after a three days detention arguing that the incitement to violence charge levelled against him was not based on existent law.
The DCI officers had asked the court to allow them to detain Matakwey for an additional 10 days to continue their investigations after he was picked while at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) offices where he had been summoned.
Matakwey had earlier questioned the manner in which he was taken into custody and claimed that the events that transpired amounted to abduction.
Speaking to kenyans.co.ke on Monday, January 30, Matakwey's lawyer Apollo Mboya stated that his client had been arrested adding that he had not been issued with a substantial reason for the arrest.
"The officers upon my request to inform why they were arresting my client revealed to me that they had instructions from above after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's complaint," he disclosed.
Matakwey's release came just a day after Azimio party leader Raila Odinga issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the DCI to release the MCA before Monday, February 6.
Raila’s concerns were a result of an alarm raised by Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino, who claimed that the MCA was being held at the Tigoni police station in Kiambu.
Our MCA Absalom has been arrested and placed under police custody. I am calling for his immediate release before Monday, February 6," Raila demanded.
