Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga was on Monday arraigned after spending five nights in police custody.
He was driven to Makadara law courts under tight security ahead of his arraignment over claims of planning anti-government protests against the high cost of living.
He had been arrested on July 20 by police from lower Matasia in Ngong and taken to an undisclosed location, his lawyer Ndegwa Njiru said.
According to the charge sheet seen by naihaps.com Njenga has been charged with possession of offensive weapons contrary to section 89 (1) of the Penal Code, CAP 63.
The former Mungiki leader was charged with two other persons – Peter Njoroge Kamunya and Felix Ratu Lakishe.
“On the 20th day of July 23 at Kiserian area within Kajiado County, without reasonable excuse, were found in possession of offensive weapons to wit 14 machetes, 24 Maasai swords, 46 rungus and three jembes sticks in circumstances which raised reasonable presumption that the said offensive weapons intended to be used in a manner prejudicial to the public order,” the court paper read in part.
The lawyers moved to court under habeas corpus and obtained an order requiring police to produce him in court on July 24.
Habeas corpus is a writ issued by a court directing one who holds another in custody to produce the person before the court for a specified purpose.
Njenga is among dozens of leaders detained for days by police over claims of organizing the protests.
The countrywide protests were called to denounce the high cost of living and the new Finance Act 2023.
More protests are planned for this week amid the police crackdown.
Police have been criticized over their brutality which left up to 15 people dead and others wounded.
