Lawyer Danstan Omari has mounted a spirited defence of comedian and activist Eric Omondi, telling a Nairobi court that the 120 plastic jerrycans at the centre of a traffic obstruction case were intended to assist ordinary Kenyans access and store water.
Omondi was charged with obstructing traffic along Nairobi's Kimathi Street after allegedly offloading 120 empty 10-litre jerrycans from a lorry, an act prosecutors say disrupted the free flow of vehicles. He denied the charges and was released on a personal bond of Sh100,000.
Appearing before the court, Omari argued that the containers were not intended to cause chaos but were part of a plan to support residents who struggle with water storage due to economic hardships. He told the court that many low-income families rely on jerrycans to fetch and store water because they cannot afford larger water tanks.
"The accused person had bought the jerrycans for members of the public," Omari submitted, adding that the confiscation of the containers had denied the intended beneficiaries access to a useful household item.
The defence team, which also included Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and advocate Martina Swiga, questioned the circumstances surrounding Omondi's arrest and detention. They argued that the activist's charitable initiatives should not be criminalised and maintained that his actions were aimed at helping vulnerable Kenyans.
The prosecution, however, insists that the offloading of the jerrycans caused an obstruction on a busy public road, warranting criminal charges. The court directed that the matter be mentioned at a later date as investigations and pre-trial procedures continue.
The case has attracted significant public attention, with supporters viewing Omondi's actions as a form of social activism while critics argue that public demonstrations must be conducted within the law. The court's eventual ruling is expected to determine whether the activist's actions amounted to a criminal offence or a charitable gesture that crossed legal boundaries.