ODM's Philip Etale Freed After Dramatic Arrest

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications Director Philip Etale, has been set free shortly after the court ordered he be detained in police custody for three days.

The order had been issued by a Kilifi Court which allowed the police to remand him, pending investigations into an election malpractice he is alleged to have committed.

However, Etale was later released on a cash bail of Sh30,000, with police being granted five days to complete investigations.

According to reports, Etale was arrested in the wee hours of Monday morning in his hotel room and was accused of trying to hack into the IEBC system.

Read Also: ODM Official Arrested Over Election Materials

The case will be mentioned on March 16.

The ODM official's arrest and subsequent detention had attracted protests, with the Opposition terming accusations against him 'fake and part of state’s plan to intimidate' their supporters in Malindi.

The Malindi by-election has been marred by dramatic and violent incidents due to claims of voter bribery and buying of identity cards.

Earlier in the day, Mwea Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Gitau was nabbed by Kilifi Women Representative Aisha Jumwa while reportedly bribing electorates, before being roughed up by a group of youths at Kibarani area.

The legislator was taken to Malindi Police Station with Sh32,000 being withheld as evidence even as he maintained his innocence.

In a separate area, Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu was ejected from a polling station after he was accused of voter manipulation. He was taken to the Malindi Police Station and later released on free bond.

Read Also: VIDEO: Waititu Thrown Out of Malindi Polling Station

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