Self-proclaimed president of comedy in Africa Eric Omondi has been released on Ksh 10,000 cash bill for picketing against the high cost of living at parliament buildings on Tuesday 21st February
Omondi, alongside seventeen co-accused youths were presented at Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday to answer charges for protesting without lawful permission
He pleaded not guilty to taking part in unlawful assembly alongside 16 others. They were facing charges of taking part in an unlawful assembly contrary to section 78 (1) as read with section 79 of the Penal Code
Through their lawyer, Danstan Omari, the accused told the court on Wednesday that they went to parliament to get a solution to the current high cost of living
Omari, added that they are representing over 50 million Kenyans who are suffering but voiceless, that speaking for others is not an offense and should not be criminalized
This comes barely, hours, after the Treasury has proposed an increase in budget to the Office of the President by Sh5 billion to Sh13.83 billion
The new budget will be 60 percent more than the original budget of Sh8.64 billion. The President and Deputy President have already spent Sh9.09 billion in the last seven months
The additional expenditure has already been tabled in the House via a supplementary budget under the law that requires MPs to approve spending that lacked a parliamentary mod within the two months
Additionally, there are other separate Sh450.85 million budgeted for the Deputy President outside the Presidency, according to the supplementary estimates before the House
State House budget has more than doubled from Sh4.37 billion approved under former retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, while Mr Gachagua’s office has been increased by Sh914.25 million to Sh2.63 billion