Comedian Eric Omondi and seven co accused have been released on free bond after denying charges of obstructing traffic along Moi Avenue in Nairobi.
The eight appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, a day after they were arrested at the Nairobi National Archives while launching Omondi’s Punguza Mzigo constitutional amendment campaign.
Omondi was released on a personal bond after the prosecution indicated that it would not oppose their release. The eight are facing charges under Section 58(c) of the Kenya Roads Act, relating to obstruction of the operation of motor vehicles on a road.
All eight pleaded not guilty, with the court directing that the matter be mentioned on September 29, 2026.
Lawyer Willis Otieno urged the court to release the accused persons on free bond, arguing that they were law-abiding citizens exercising their constitutional rights. Otieno told the court that the accused were arrested at the National Archives, which he described as a public square, while collecting signatures from members of the public in support of a proposed constitutional amendment through a popular initiative.
He emphasised that the signatures were being collected from members of the public and “not from motorists,” challenging the basis of the traffic obstruction allegations.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, who also represented the accused, asked the court to consider the broader circumstances surrounding their arrest. Omari accused the State of changing its position on the laws it uses against people holding different political views. He cited the first accused person’s history with the courts, saying he had represented him since 2017.
Omari claimed that several previous cases involving the accused had failed to proceed, alleging that the State had developed a “galloping approach” of arresting suspects, taking them to court and leaving the matter to the Judiciary. Omari urged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions not to act as a “conveyor belt of the Executive” and cautioned the Judiciary against being used in political battles. He described the accused as “national heroes” pursuing a proposal to reduce Kenya’s 47 counties to eight.
Omondi’s Punguza Mzigo campaign seeks to collect one million signatures in support of proposed constitutional changes, including reducing the number of counties from 47 to eight and removing several legislative positions.
