A Kahawa court is expected to deliver a ruling on whether to grant bail to 36 protesters, alongside Democratic Congress Party (DCP) youth leaders Wanjiku Thiga and Peter Kinyanjui alias Kawanjiru, who were arrested in connection with the recent demonstrations.
The suspects were arraigned last week at the Kahawa Law Courts and faced terrorism related charges after police linked them to participating in what authorities described as unlawful protests.
During the proceedings, the prosecution opposed their release on bail, citing ongoing investigations and potential threats to public order.
However, the defence argued that the accused were peaceful demonstrators exercising their constitutional right to protest and had no links to any criminal activities.
Lawyers representing Thiga, Kawanjiru, and the other protesters urged the court to grant them bail on reasonable terms, arguing that their continued detention infringes on their constitutional rights, including the right to liberty and a fair trial.
The court is expected to determine today whether or not to grant them bail.
Elsewhere, the hearing in the case surrounding the death of Rex Masai is expected to continue today at the Milimani Law Courts.
The inquest continues to establish the circumstances under which the 29-year-old protester was shot and killed during the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations in Nairobi in June 2024.
During previous sessions, senior police officers, including former Kamukunji OCS Chief Inspector Robert Mugo, denied claims that police officers used live bullets during the protests.
Mugo told the court that his officers only deployed teargas and batons to disperse looters and had no involvement in Masai’s death.
The court heard that approximately 60 officers were sent from Kamukunji to manage the protests. According to Mugo’s testimony, the officers used teargas and batons (rungus) to disperse the crowds.
He further stated he only became aware of the incident through reports circulating on social media.
The court also heard that Constables Isaiah Murangiri, Benson Kamau, and Geoffrey Kigen were neither under his command nor attached to the Kamukunji police station.
