Embakasi East MP Babu Owino during a court session with the 42 protesters charged with robbery and violence. Photo: Babu Owino X.
It was a sigh of relief for 42 protesters arrested during Gen Z led anti-government protests, after High Court in Thika reviewed and reduced their cash bail from KSh 100,000 to KSh 30,000 each.
Presiding over the bail review at Thika High Court, Lady Justice Florence Muchemi stated that the initial amount KSh 100,000 set by the lower court was excess.
The suspects had been charged with robbery, which Embakasi East lawmaker Babu Owino termed as ‘limping charge’, during the last June 25 anniversary and July 7 Saba Saba protests in various parts of the country.
“This is another win registered by Advocates. The Big Bad Team as referred by the Court,” Owino said.
The lawmaker was part of the team with advocates Abner Mango, Pius Oyoo, Noordean Khagai, Wanjira Maina and James Ong’amo.
The defense team had argued that the initial bail terms were punitive and amounted to unlawful detention of peaceful protesters in the two historical protests in the country.
However, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had faulted the Court for giving lenient cash bails to protesters, and described the acts by protesters as terrorism related offenses.
Murkomen in his national address on the state of security in the country, faulted the Court for giving protesters who stormed Kitengela Sub-County Hospital during a C-Section a cash bail of KSh 50,000.
About the Author
