Korogocho Member of County Assembly (MCA) Absalom Odhiambo was arraigned in court on Tuesday after his arrest on Monday, January 31. 

The MCA is alleged to have uttered words which according to the police are "likely to cause violence or destabilize the Nation."

Police say Odhiambo uttered the alleged inciting words during an Azimio la Umoja rally held at the Kamukunji grounds on Monday, January 23. 

The Director of Criminal Investigation has now asked the court to grant them seven days to detain the MCA, so as to complete investigations into the matter.

“The applicant advanced investigations have revealed that the respondent is a habitual character who wants to cause havoc of the Nation through his followers both from public address and social media,” court was told.

DCI argue that they need seven days to retrieve any possible inciting messages from his phone and record statements for the state to enhance evidence for the prosecution. The court was further told that he is a flight risk. 

“The investigator estimates that it will take 7 days to complete investigations and forward the investigations file to the ODPP for decision to charge,” reads the application. 

However, defense lawyers led by Danstan Omari opposed the request, saying that Odhiambo is not a flight risk and that his prosecution is political. 

“This is a respectable family man, the regime that brings out client to you said they will not use the police to harass people...we urge this court to be independent and fair and let it not be an entry of political arrests. There are no compelling reasons to detain the MCA for seven days, even for a day,” the defense argued. 

The Korogocho MCA will now remain in police custody as court will deliver its ruling tomorrow.