New Year Reprieve for Journalist Laban Cliff Onserio after Court releases him on bail

Standard media journalist Laban Cliff Onserio has been released on a cash bail of Sh 100 000 pending a plea taking on January 10.

It was a reprieve for Onserio, who was arrested on criminal charges involving allegations of having a grenade on December 20, who will now join his family for the new year.

The anti-terror court senior resident magistrate Boaz Ombewa deferred plea taking due to the absence of his lawyer in court and police requesting more time to finish their probe.

Police sources claim Onserio was found in possession of the grenade at the Holy Family Basilica’s basement after an alleged altercation with the church’s guards. It is claimed that he had threatened to attack.

Further, police accuse Onserio of not giving satisfactory reasons why he had the flash-bang grenade and did not have a certificate to allow him to own the explosive device.

According to an affidavit, the journalist told detectives that he acquired the grenade from a British national working with the aviation company Fly 540.

Onserio, who started his career at General Electric in 2011 as a management trainee, plunged into journalism, with his first stint being at CNBC Africa as a business reporter.

He later worked for NTV before joining the government as the Deputy Director of Communications office at the defunct State House’s Presidential Delivery Unit.

The former Nakuru High School and Strathmore University student is also a rally driver who has previously participated in the national rally championships.

Currently, he serves as Standard Group’s Chief of Staff.