'I stand for what is right!' Wahu speaks after she was arrested and charged in court

Piece by: Caren Nyota
Lifestyle

Gospel artiste Wahu Kagwi has been released on a Sh15,000 bond after allegedly committing a traffic offence.

The mother of two was arrested on Wednesday and charged on Thursday morning at Milimani law courts.

She was arrested by traffic police in Kilimani area towards Riverside.

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In an interview with Mpasho.co.ke, she said,

The traffic cop pulled me over and I didn't have my driving licence on me but the other things he was accusing me of I don't agree. The issue is I refused to take the easy way which is giving a bribe.

He insisted that she had overlapped but when she tried to explain to him that there was a car in front which had stopped, he couldn't listen to her.

He asked me 'do you want me to give you a cash bail' and I told him that I didn't have cash on me. I don't know how this cash bail system works and wasn't comfortable with it. It would be great if it was a cashless system,' she said.

Adding,

He asked me 'how much do you have?' I told him I didn't have any cash and he was like 'you want to go to court?'

Wahu thought that the cop would give her time to present her Driving Licence later but "he insisted that I had overlapped and overtaken dangerously of which I don't agree."

She said that she has been stopped severally at the same spot, where many motorists are extorted.

"A day before my arrest another cop stopped me because I was on my earphones talking on phone. He entered my car and told me to pull aside but I told him it was legal [to talk on phone]. All they do is try to see if you know your rights or not," she said.

Wahu went ahead to talk about corruption saying,

"if we're going to change this country, I as a citizen of Kenya have a role to play and follow the law. You want me to go to court? fine, I'll show up in court."

The multitalented singer narrated how fellow citizens along the court corridors persuaded her to pay the bribe instead of going to court.

"...they were like Wahu are you sure you want to follow the long procedure? I was like, let me do it. If I'm gonna teach my child to be straight and do the right thing I have to do the right thing myself.

Adding,

"The right thing also has to be made easier because I've spent the entire morning in court. There's an easier way justice can be delivered and also for all of us as Kenyans everybody has a part to play. I shouldn't be a willing giver of bribe."

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She asked the court to define for her dangerous overtaking (an offence she was charged with) before pleading.

I have to stand for what is right. If everyone including you, the police and me do the right thing we are going to make this country better. For me, especially as a role model I'm not going to take the easy way out.

The hearing will be on December 9.

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