Maandamano suspects released on bail

More than 90 suspects who were detained on Wednesday in Eastlands, Nairobi, following protests by members of the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition were charged in court on Thursday with participating in an illegal assembly in violation of section 79 of the penal code.

The majority of the suspects were apprehended in the estates of Makongeni and Shauri Moyo on Jogoo Road. Within the Embakasi East sub-county, other people were detained in Jacaranda, Savannah, and Dandora estate.

One of the defendants, a 15-year-old boy, acknowledged that he was detained while taking part in the violent demonstrations.

One of the defendants, a 15-year-old boy, acknowledged that he was detained while taking part in the violent demonstrations.

Charges of assaulting police officers in the proper performance of their duties in violation of section 103 (a) of the National Police Service Act of 2011 were brought against several of the accused who reportedly stoned police officers dispersing the protestors.

During the protests, two police officers from the Shauri Moyo and Makongeni Police Stations suffered injuries.

Many of the accused, who asserted that a police officer struck them when they were being arrested, were unable to stand when they were arraigned before the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi and were therefore unable to be charged.

Prior to filing charges, Senior Principal Magistrate Helen Okwani ordered that the suspects be brought to a hospital for treatment. The injured suspects are to be arraigned for a plea hearing on July 20, 2023, the magistrate further directed.

The rest of the accused entered a variety of defenses, with the bulk disputing the allegations against them.

Those who had added charges of assaulting police officers were freed on a cash bail of Sh30,000 while those who had only been charged with participating in an unlawful assembly were released on a cash bail of Sh5,000.

Lawyers Samuel Ayora and Rachel Nyambura defended each suspect. The detainees’ attorneys appealed for moderate bail and bond conditions.

More than 24 people are facing charges for allegedly hitting a police officer with a stone, but the officer is still alive, Mr. Ayora informed Ms. Okwani.

The defendants who entered a guilty plea were remanded in custody until July 17, 2023, when the prosecution will present its case against them and they will be found guilty and sentenced.