The Magistrate Court in Nyeri has granted 20 suspects accused of looting Naivas Supermarket on June 25 during the Gen-Z demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protest, the option of a cash bail.
Last week, police arrested 21 people in connection with the incident.
The 21 suspects, who include 10 women, were arraigned in court on Friday, June 27.
Whereas 11 of them pleaded guilty to the offence of stealing and an alternate charge of handling stolen items, the remaining 10 denied the charge and were granted a Sh100,000 bond without the option of bail.
The suspects were arrested with an assortment of items, including mattresses and home appliances.
Among them are fridges, electric cookers, televisions, and food items, namely soft drinks and tomato paste, which are believed to have been stolen from the supermarket and whose value is estimated to be Sh393,990.
“You had been granted a bond of Sh100,000 each, but now I have revised the terms to include a Sh50,000 cash bail," stated Principal Magistrate Cheruto Kipkorir.
"The case will be mentioned on July 22, when the prosecution will supply you with statements which we shall be relying on during the case,” he added.
Earlier, there was drama in the court after 10 out of the 11 suspects who had pleaded guilty last week to the offence changed their plea after the particulars of the items they are accused of stealing were read out in court.
Only one suspect, identified as Nicholas Waigi, admitted to stealing a 6x6 mattress valued at Sh60,000 from the supermarket.
While pleading for a lenient fine or sentence, Waigi told the court that he is a first-time offender and he was remorseful for stealing the mattress from the complainant.
