NAIROBI, Kenya – Activist and comedian Eric Omondi has been released on a personal bond of Sh100,000 after pleading not guilty to charges of obstructing traffic along Nairobi’s Kimathi Street.
Omondi, who spent the weekend in custody following his arrest at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday, appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Monday where he denied the charges brought against him.
According to the charge sheet, Omondi is accused of causing obstruction to the free flow of traffic on June 5, 2026, by offloading dozens of empty plastic jerricans along Kimathi Street in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
The prosecution alleges that the activist’s actions disrupted movement along the busy street, leading to the charge of traffic obstruction.
In court, Omondi’s legal team successfully applied for his release on bond, arguing that he posed no flight risk and has a known place of residence within Nairobi.
His defence team, comprising advocates Danstan Omari, Martina Swiga and Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, challenged the circumstances surrounding his arrest and subsequent detention.
Omari told the court that the jerricans were intended for distribution to low-income residents in Nairobi who rely on such containers to store water due to inadequate access to permanent water storage facilities.
“Many city residents cannot afford rooftop water tanks and depend on jerricans for water storage,” Omari submitted.
Swiga argued that Omondi’s activities were part of his “Sisi Kwa Sisi” initiative, which she described as a charitable programme aimed at supporting vulnerable families across the country.
Owino criticised the timing and manner of the arrest, telling the court that Omondi had been preparing to travel to Kisumu for an event where he was scheduled to serve as master of ceremonies.
According to the legislator, the arrest disrupted the engagement and resulted in financial losses for the activist.
The defence also sought the release of electronic gadgets seized during the arrest, arguing that the devices are essential tools used by Omondi in his work and public engagements.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, maintaining that the gadgets form part of the evidence required for investigations and should remain in police custody.
The defence further questioned the legality of Omondi’s detention, arguing that holding him for 72 hours violated constitutional protections relating to bail and fair administrative action.
While the prosecution did not oppose Omondi’s release on bond, it maintained its position regarding the electronic devices.
In his ruling, Magistrate Onsarigo granted Omondi a personal bond of Sh100,000 and directed that the matter be mentioned on June 22, 2026, for further directions.
Omondi’s arrest followed a protest action in Nairobi in which he used empty yellow jerricans to draw attention to concerns over the rising cost of fuel and the impact of high living expenses on ordinary Kenyans.
The case now proceeds to the next stage as the court prepares to issue further directions later this month.
