Igembe South legislator John Paul Mwirigi was banned from his constituency and county by a court.

24 Year-old Mwirigi, who is Kenya's youngest MP, pleaded not guilty to the charges before Meru Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Abuya.

Give Police Time

Ms Abuya asked the MP to stay away from the area for 14 days to allow police complete investigations into the incident.

State counsel Claire Muriithi had asked the court to have the MP held for the same period so as not to interfere with the investigations.

Ms Muriithi who relied on an affidavit sworn by Investigating Officer Nick Odhiambo said Igembe South was tense and the MP needed to be kept in custody for peace.

Mwirigi was charged with obstruction of a police officer and helping a prisoner to escape.

The MP was arrested on Monday for mobilising Probox and motorcycle drivers to oppose the ongoing road safety crackdown.

Escape

He denied a charge of aiding a motorcyclist in the same location who was under police custody to escape.

Mwirigi was accused of interfering with police duties during the incident on the Meru-Mikinduri-Maua Highway.

The first time MP together with his counterparts Rahim Dawood and EALA's Mpuru Aburi campaigned against alleged harassment of hundreds of operators of unlicensed saloon cars operating as matatus.