Kenyan Comedian Eric Omondi has been arrested by police officers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Omondi in a statement on Friday, November 15, claimed that he was arrested before he boarded his flight to Tanzania.
According to the comedian, he was enroute to Dar es Salaam in an inaugural flight of Skyward Express, which he represents as an ambassador.
Eric revealed that he was blocked by immigration officers who informed him of a Stop Order barring his travel after he handed over his passport.
“I have been arrested at JKIA just before I boarded a flight to Dar Es Salaam. As a Brand Ambassador to Skyward, we were launching the inaugural Dar Es Salaam flight. Upon handing over my Passport, the Immigration officers informed me that there is a Stop Order and that I cannot travel, and I have to be detained,” said Omondi.
This is not the first time Omondi is being put behind bars.
Eric Omondi arrested outside Parliament
The comedian was on June 21 arrested while protesting outside Parliament Buildings.
In a video seen by The Kenya Times, Omondi was in the company of a few other individuals donned in red clothes, while protesting.
Also Read: Eric Omondi Launches Campaign to Reduce Counties and Elected Officials
The comedian turned activist was on a horse marching with the others when police officers followed them.
“Power to the people,” they were heard chanting.
This was before the officers charged towards him and pulled him to the ground.
He was then escorted by a gang of officers despite his resistance and continuous chants on rejecting the Bill.
An officer was also seen beating up the comedian before detaining him.
A day before the arrest, Omondi had in a post on social media platform X called out legislators who had voted in favour of the contentious Finance Bill, 2024.
He said the MPs had gone against the wishes of Kenyans.
In a separate incident on June 4, Omondi had been arrested yet again after leading mama mbogas in a demonstration outside the same Parliament buildings.
The group was at the time protesting against the Finance Bill, 2024 along Parliament Road when the officers disbursed them.
Following his arrest, he was booked at Parliament police station.
Eric launches initiative
Omondi, who has all along been known as a rib cracker, has lately been investing a lot of his time on activism.
Also Read: Gen Zs Announce Date for Fresh Anti-Ruto Protests
He initiated a signature collection campaign back in August aimed at reducing the number of elected officials and counties.
Speaking during a press conference at Serena Hotel on August 20, Eric announced plans to gather one million signatures in support of a referendum that would initiate significant changes in the country’s administration system.
He explained that he aims to cut the number of counties from 47 to 8 through this initiative and abolish nominated leaders, including Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), Women representatives and Senators.
“We are here to launch the referendum to reduce the number of counties and elected officials, we are going to reduce the number of counties from 47 to 8, we are going to abolish nominated leaders including MPs, MCAs and Senators.”
“We are also going to abolish the Senate in its entirety as well as the position of women rep,” he said.
Omondi criticized the current political structure, stating that Kenyans are overrepresented, with one citizen having multiple representatives doing the same thing.
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