Fresh details emerge over the real reason behind the arrest of Nation's reporter
At about 2PM on Monday, the writer was arraigned at Milimani law courts.
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Menya was arrested by police on Sunday and held at undisclosed location for allegedly soliciting for a bribe of Ksh50,000 to kill a fake story.
After his arrest which is clouded by secrecy and mystery, Police spokesman George Kinoti issued a statement saying the writer was facing charges of soliciting money to kill the said story.
The nation newspaper later issued a statement stating it was not privy of what lead to Menya’s arrest.
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According to police, the Menya’s woes arose from an article he wrote about Friends of Jubilee Foundation in the Sunday Nation under the title Civil servants in JP foundation say all they want is to alleviate poverty.
However unconfirmed sources claim that the real reason Menya was arrested was because he linked top civil servants who are active funders for Uhuru’s re-election through Friends of Jubilee Foundation.
The same sources indicate that unknown number kept sending money to his mobile number.
At about 2PM today the writer was arraigned at Milimani law where he was able to face his accuser, a man named Kiprotich Koros.
DCI officer Moses Gituathi told the court the journalist received Sh32,000 through M-Pesa transactions between June 15 and 17.
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"During the arrest, the respondent was found in possession of Sh20,000 which was treated for the purpose of evidence collection after the report was made and the same was kept as exhibit," the officer said.
The DCI asked the court for three more days to finish their report, stating that the clothes Menya was wearing were yet to be given to the government chemist for examination on the APK power.
Milimani senior principal magistrate, Martha Mutuku however turned down the prosecution request and gave police one more day to conclude their investigation and ordered Menya be freed by 5pm on Tuesday.
Menya was represented by lawyers James Orengo and Apollo Mboya.
The Kenya Union of Journalists has strongly condemned the arrest, claiming Menya was set up and called on journalists to say 'no' to intimidation.
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They are expected to hold protests in a show of solidarity with the writer.
"All journalists must come out to say 'no' to intimidation and show solidarity with Walter Menya who was arrested after a setup." KUJ secretary general Eric Oduor said.
Kenyans too took to social media to condemned the arrest and intimidation of media workers.
State House director of digital Dennis Itumbi also broke ranks with Jubilee over Menya matter.
Civil groups have also condemned the arrest.
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