KIRINYAGA — A court in Wang’uru has lowered the cash bail for 18 youths arrested during the July 7 Saba Saba protests in Mwea from Ksh.50,000 to Ksh.40,000 each, following a petition by their legal team. The group had been arrested in Ngurubani town, located in Mwea-East sub-county, and was charged with unlawful assembly. Authorities alleged the youths intended to break into and loot Nice Supermarket during the protests.
The 18 accused include Felix Karanja, Kelvin Muchira, Dennis Mawira, Brighton Mwaniki, Paul Njehia, Innocent Wafula, Peter Mwangi, Simon Ng’are, Onesmus Mwendia, Zachary Mwondia, Peter Mutie, Justus Karanja, Geoffrey Gichimo, Dennis Karanja, Jackson Mutugi, Joseph Ng’ang’a, Kevin Karanja, and Alvin Mutuma.
The accused were first arraigned on July 8, a day after their arrest. The prosecution was then granted three days to conclude investigations. They entered not-guilty pleas on July 11 and were each granted bail at Ksh.50,000. So far, only eight of the 18 have been able to raise the initial bail amount. Ten remain held at the Mwea GK Prison.
The Law Society of Kenya’s Kirinyaga chapter, through advocate Obadiah Kuria Mburu, filed a request seeking a bail reduction to enable the remaining detainees to secure release.
“Only eight people have paid the cash bail of Ksh.50,000. The rest are still in remand. We request the court to consider lowering the amount,” Mburu told the court. Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku approved the request and revised the cash bail to Ksh.40,000 per individual.
The case will be mentioned again on August 6, 2025, to allow the prosecution time to provide all necessary evidence, including CCTV footage. The full hearing is scheduled for November 18, 2025.
The arrests took place amid nationwide anti-government protests marked on Saba Saba Day. Human rights groups have called for transparency and fairness in how the courts handle charges arising from these demonstrations.
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