Yesterday(Monday), the case in which seven MRC leaders are charged with being members of an unlawful society failed to take off for the third time in three years due to the absence of investigating officer Simon Mureithi.
Lawyer Anania Mwaboza for the MRC leaders told Chief Magistrate Richard Odenyo yesterday at the Mombasa Law Courts that the case had stalled since 2010.
“This case should start since it has been long in coming. This is the third time it is being adjourned for various unsubstantiated reasons,” Mwaboza said.
Mwaboza told the court that according to the reports he received, the witness was currently on holiday.
He said that the court has several State officers, who can testify instead of derailing the case just because one witness is on holiday.
However, the prosecutor Simon Waithaka denied reports that the witness was on holiday and said the case should be put on hold until the officer is available.
“Your honour, given the sensitive nature of the case, I request for adjournment of the case to a later date when the witness will be available,” Simon said.
The seven MRC leaders namely, Omar Hamisi, Randu Nzai, Mohammed Rashid, Omar Suleiman, Nyae Ngao, Salim Ali and Salim Hamisi had been released on a one million bond each and surety of the sme amount.
Secession bid
They are accused of belonging to an outlawed group that was pushing for secession of the Coast region. They are allged to have been found with pamphlets bearing the words “Pwani Si Kenya”, a slogan associated with MRC, which invited disobedience to the laws of the country.
The seven are also alleged to be part of the group that attacked former Fisheries minister Amason Kingi at a rally in Mtwapa in which four people were killed