Standard Media Group Journalist Laban-Cliff Onserio has been denied him access to the company’s premises.
The journalist who also doubles up as Chief of Staff to the Group CEO Orlando Lyomu has also been locked out of official emails and kicked out of all WhatsApp groups.
It is not clear why the company has taken such drastic steps to the journalist who is set to take plea for possession of explosives.
Sources however say he was not informed on whatever is happening and that he only found out on Monday when he reported to work.
His access card refused to open the gate and on inquiry he was told by the security office to call his supervisor who is the CEO.
Surprisingly the journalist who was once the eyes and ears was unable to reach him on phone. He went back home.
While it is unclear why the company decided to do that to one of its senior most managers, there is a feeling by some of the bosses that there is a need to cut links with Onserio before he takes plea.
On Tuesday, Onserio asked the State to consider an alternative to court prosecution in a case where he is accused of being in possession of a hand grenade and threatening to use it for an attack.
The prosecution team led by Jillo Guyo told Kahawa Law Courts that the accused, through his lawyer Ishmael Nyaribo, has written to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) seeking an alternative to prosecution. This means that his legal team is seeking a formal reprimand from authorities away from the formal court process.
“The matter is coming up for plea-taking. The accused through his counsel wrote to ODPP to consider an alternative to prosecution. We are considering the request and we need a week to take a decision on the request,” Mr Guyo told Kahawa Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Boaz Ombewa.
The court also pushed the mention of his case to January 18.
Onserio is out on cash bail of Sh100,000 pending his plea-taking on criminal charges. Senior Principal Magistrate Boaz Ombewa also gave him an alternative of depositing a bond of Sh300,000.
While pleading with the court to grant him cash bail or bond, Mr Onserio said that he had spent over 14 days in police custody and he wished to deposit security so that he can join his family in celebrating the New Year holiday.
The journalist, who was arrested on December 20 at a parking bay owned by Holy Family Basilica, denies any wrongdoing.
Police said he was arrested after a stun grenade was found in his car by officers who had been called in by the church’s guards to respond to an altercation involving the journalist.
