10 anti-high fuel prices protesters released on Ksh3K cash bail
By Zipporah Ngwatu, April 22, 2026Nairobi City Court has freed 10 persons on a cash bail of Ksh3,000 after they denied a charge of wilfully obstructing free passage on a public street in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has charged the ten men with obstructing free passage of a public street contrary to Section 11(1)(a) as read with Section 11(2) of the Nairobi City County Public Nuisance Act 2021.
The ten charged are well-known activists along the court corridors: Julius Kamau, Joshua Okayo, Emmanuel Muchui, Michael Ngige, Alphones Opiyo, Brian Mwendwa, Dickson Mworia, Emmanuel Yegon, Collins Otieno, and Elisha Ochieng.
“On April 21, 2026, in the Archives area, along Moi Avenue in the Nairobi Central Business District, within Nairobi City County, they wilfully obstructed the free passage of a public street by gathering in crowds, thereby causing inconvenience to pedestrians and road users,” the charge sheet reads.
However, two other young men have not pleaded to the charge after it emerged that they were minors.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), through lawyer Ian Mutiso, informed the court that the two minors were arrested with the other ten during the Tuesday, April 21, 2026, protests.
Appearing before City Court Senior Principal Magistrate Rhoda Yator on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, lawyer Mutiso urged the court not to let the two minors plead to the charge, as the other ten were taking the plea.
The court directed the two to stay aside as the others took a plea.
The ten men have pleaded not guilty to the charge against them, and a plea of not guilty has been entered.
The court has released the ten on a cash bail of Ksh3,000 each and directed the Central Police Officer Commanding Station (OCS) to make the two said minors available for an age assessment test to ascertain their age before they are charged.
“The accused persons are hereby released on a cash bail of Ksh3,000 each, and an order is issued to the Central Police OCS to take two alleged minors to a medical facility for age assessment,” Magistrate Yator ruled.
The matter will be mentioned on May 7, 2026.