36 charged with terrorism at Kahawa Law Court over demo chaos

The accused appeared before the Kahawa Law Court on July 8 when the DPP approved terrorism charges against them. /DPP

Thirty-six individuals were on Thursday charged with terrorism-related offences at the Kahawa Law Court following their arrest during nationwide anti-government demonstrations on June 25, 2025.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) levelled the charges after the accused were apprehended in separate operations in Kikuyu, Kiambu county and Matuu, Machakos county.

The court heard that 24 of the accused were involved in what the prosecution described as a “coordinated attack” in Kikuyu town that resulted in extensive damage to multiple government facilities.

The institutions targeted include the Kikuyu Probation offices, Kikuyu Law Courts, Subcounty offices, Chief’s office, the Office of the Registrar of Persons, Subcounty Education office, Accountant’s office, Registrar of Lands office, Dagoretti police post, and the Kikuyu Deputy County Commissioner’s office.

The suspects face charges of committing a terrorist act and arson.

The prosecution also entered an alternative count of malicious property damage.

They were charged alongside DCP youth leader Peter Kinyanjui Wanjiru, alias Kawanjiru, and DCP national youth leader Serah Wanjiku Thiga, who faced similar allegations.

In a related case, 10 more individuals were arraigned over incidents in Matuu, Machakos county.

The DPP told the court that the group committed a terrorist act at Matuu police station, where government property, including police vehicles, was destroyed.

The Matuu group faces additional charges of assaulting police officers on duty and multiple counts of malicious property damage.

All 36 accused persons pleaded not guilty before Principal Magistrate Gideon Kiaga.

The prosecution opposed bail for all the suspects, citing security concerns and the risk of flight.

“Some of the suspects do not reside in the areas where the offences were committed,” the DPP noted, adding that “the acts were part of a wider, coordinated attack on government installations.”

The court is expected to rule on the bond applications in due course.