Comedian and activist Erick Omondi has been released on a personal bond of Sh100,000 after pleading not guilty to a charge of obstructing traffic along Kimathi Street in Nairobi.
Omondi appeared before a Milimani court on Monday, where he denied the offence allegedly committed on May 18, 2026.
According to the charge sheet, the activist is accused of offloading 120 empty 10-litre jerry cans from a lorry on Kimathi Street, an act that allegedly interfered with the free flow of traffic.
Through his legal team, Omondi sought release on bond, arguing that he is not a flight risk and has a known residence within the city.
His lawyers, Danstan Omari, Martina Swiga and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, told the court that their client had been unlawfully held in police custody for more than 72 hours before being presented in court.
Omari submitted that the empty jerry cans were intended for distribution to vulnerable Nairobi residents to help them store water.
“Unlike a few rich Kenyans, the majority of Kenyans residing in Nairobi live below the poverty level and cannot afford to install water tanks in their homes and therefore rely on jerry cans,” Omari told the court.
He argued that many low-income families lack water storage facilities such as tanks and therefore rely on jerry cans for daily use.
Swiga told the court that Omondi runs a community initiative known as Sisi Kwa Sisi, which supports needy Kenyans, and that the programme should not be criminalized.
Owino urged the court to release the accused on a free bond, saying he had been arrested while preparing to travel to Kisumu for a work-related event.
The legislator said the arrest caused Omondi financial loss and disrupted his professional engagements.
He further asked the court to order the release of electronic devices seized during the arrest, arguing that the gadgets are essential to Omondi’s work and livelihood.
Owino also told the court that efforts to secure his client’s release on police bail were unsuccessful.
“Police circumvented Article 49 of the Constitution, which requires a suspect to be released on bond pending investigations and prosecution,” he said.
He argued that investigators had disregarded constitutional provisions that require suspects to be released on bond unless there are compelling reasons to deny them bail.
The defence further maintained that there was little traffic on the day in question, claiming public transport operators had staged a strike over rising fuel prices.
The prosecution did not oppose the bond application but informed the court that the confiscated mobile phones were being preserved as exhibits in the case.
In a brief ruling, the court released Omondi on a personal bond of Sh100,000.
The matter will be mentioned on June 22, 2026, for further directions.
