This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
On August 10, 2019, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang was released on a 1 million Kenyan shillings bond after being charged with incitement to violence, abuse of power and malicious damage to property.
Sang was arrested on Monday afternoon and spent the night in central police station in Kisumu County. He was presented before Chief Magistrate Julius Ngar on Tuesday morning, but the matter was referred to Chief Magistrate Beryl Omollo due to a conflict of interest.
The governor's lawyers had requested that he be released unconditionally pending the hearing and determination of the case, but this was denied.
According to reports, Sang had invaded a tea farm, destroyed 2500 mature tea bushes, and was armed with farm tools. He claimed that he was trying to repossess the land, which was allegedly grabbed by private owners from community members.
Members of parliament, including Vincent Tuwei, Julius Meli, Cornelius Serem, Alfred Keter, and Senator Samson Cherarge, have condemned the governor's actions, stating that he should have waited for the pending court cases in the High Court in Eldoret and Nairobi.
