Ten individuals accused of involvement in violent incidents during the Linda Mwananchi rally over the past weekend have been released on bail, following their appearance at the Kisumu Law Courts.
They were each granted a Sh30,000 bond with a surety or Sh10,000 cash bail on Wednesday after denying charges of political violence. The court ruled that the suspects do not pose a security threat and upheld their constitutional right to bail.
The ten; Shadrack Aula, Collins Omondi, Patrick Bunde, Earnest Masheti, Silas Odero, Dickson Ochieng, Hemile Omondi, Clifford Juma, David Omolo, and Pater Okoth—were arrested in Kisumu by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over suspicions that they had been planning acts of political violence. Police said they recovered several crude weapons, including daggers and knives, from a saloon car in which the suspects were travelling.
Chief Magistrate Benson Ireri presided over the hearing and rejected a prosecution request to detain the suspects for an additional 14 days, stating that there was no reason to keep them in custody.
He emphasized that while the accused are out on bond, the DCI is still allowed to continue investigations, including analyzing mobile phones and other evidence related to the rally.
The prosecution had argued for further detention to allow investigators more time to complete their inquiries, but the court held that the constitutional right to bail takes precedence, particularly since the suspects do not pose a threat to public safety.
The case is set for mention on March 14, 2026, as authorities continue to gather evidence and pursue the investigation into the rally-related violence.
