This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
Dennis Itumbi, a former State House media man, has been released on Sh100,000 cash bail in a Nairobi court.
Senior Magistrate Zainabu Abdul ruled that the police had squandered the time given for further investigations, allowing Itumbi's release on bail.
Itumbi was arrested on July 4, 2019, for allegedly sharing a letter detailing plans to assassinate Deputy President William Ruto in a WhatsApp group.
Prosecutors had sought to detain him for nine more days to allow police time to continue interrogating the 256 Tangatanga WhatsApp group members.
Itumbi's defence lawyers, led by Katwa Kigen, had requested the release of his sim card, phone, and power bank, but the prosecution agreed to release the power bank and retain the sim card and phone until a forensic report was received.
Itumbi, who has been in police custody for a week, entered the courtroom in a jovial mood, carrying a book titled When Breath Becomes Air, anticipating his release.
