This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa was arrested on Tuesday night after a 48-year-old man was shot in the chest and killed in Malindi. The incident occurred at the homestead of Reuben Mwambire Katana, the ODM candidate for the Ganda ward by-election.
Police announced that Jumwa and her aide Geoffrey Okuto Otieno were under investigation for the murder of Ngumbao Jola. They also alleged that Jumwa was planning to disrupt the Ganda ward by-election using a gang of supporters from Takaungu in Kilifi County.
On October 16, 2019, Jumwa was taken to a Mombasa court, where the prosecution sought orders to detain her for 21 days pending investigations. Senior Resident Magistrate Adet Okello announced that he would deliver his ruling the next day, citing that he did not want to work outside of official time.
Police broke into Jumwa's home early on the day of her arrest to apprehend Okuto, who was found inside the house with a Ceska pistol, 11 bullets, a magazine, and a holster. A car the two were driving during the violence was also impounded.
At the court hearing, State lawyer Alloys Kemo described Jumwa as a confrontational and violent person who should be restrained and kept away from the elections. He argued that she was likely to lead a flare-up of violence within Malindi Constituency if not detained.
