The highcourt on Monday granted a Ksh1 million anticipatory bond to Mombasa Land CEC Mohammed Hussein in Blogger Bruce Johns assault case.
The bond was issued by High Court Judge Wendy Kagendo. The bond was issued together with one surety and contact person. Hussein was further granted an alternative cash bail of Ksh500,000 and required to present two contact persons.
The court also directed that the accused refrain from contacting the complainant or engaging in any actions that might interfere with the ongoing investigation. A mention of the case was scheduled for a later date, with the trial expected to commence in the coming months.
According to the prosecution, the CEC allegedly had a personal disagreement with the blogger due to her social media posts, which were critical of certain county officials. The prosecution argued that this led to the abduction plot, aimed at silencing the blogger’s criticisms.
The case has since ignited public outrage, with human rights groups in Mombasa calling for justice for the victim and urging authorities to ensure a fair trial. The incident has also revived discussions on the safety of journalists and bloggers, especially those who report on sensitive political issues. Activists have called for greater protection for whistleblowers and media figures, warning that intimidation and violence against them could have a chilling effect on free speech and accountability in the country.
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