Police allowed to hold students for three days

An Eldoret court has allowed the police to detain for three days 15 university and college students who were arrested over their involvement in last week’s protests against the Finance Bill.

The students were arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers during last week’s protests in Eldoret town. They will be charged with malicious damage of property, stealing and handling stolen property worth millions of shillings during the protests.

Chief Magistrate Dennis Mikoyani directed that the suspects be escorted to Eldoret GK Remand Prison pending their appearance in court on Thursday when their prayers to be released on bond will be determined.

The magistrate was responding to an application by the inspecting officer Corporal Ekiru Kirimoni who had asked the court to allow them to continue holding the students for 21 days, saying they are yet to complete investigations into the anti-finance bill protest in the town.

He argued that they were yet to record statements from prosecution witnesses adding that it was not safe for the suspects to be released on bond as their safety would not be guaranteed.

According to Corporal Kirimoni, the students were arrested on June 26  and booked in custody at the Langas and Kiambaa police stations in Kapseret and Keses sub-counties respectively.

They are reported to have broken into Timba XO Lounge, a nightclub associated with Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi while chanting anti-finance bill messages and ‘Sudi must go’. slogans.

Gained access

They are said to have broken the main gate before gaining access to the premises.

The rowdy protesters among them the students then allegedly stole assorted alcoholic drinks, sound systems, TV screens, laptops, computers, utensils, gas cylinders, water pumps, air conditioners and other electronics.

“The protestors also managed to willfully and unlawfully damage the entire CCTV control room, the main club store, alcohol counters, pool tables and glasses whose value has not been ascertained,” said Kirimoni.

He further stated that nine police officers who had responded to a distress call by the club manager suffered injuries as the protestors pelted them with stones.

Corporal Kirimoni sought 21 days to continue holding the suspects as the detectives complete investigations noting that the value of the stolen and damaged items which is yet to be ascertained is seemingly too high.

Key witnesses

In a sworn affidavit, Kirimoni claimed that key witnesses have not yet recorded their respective statements.

The detective stated that the suspects’ mobiles phones will be subjected to cybercrime analysis for retrieval of crucial information, pictures and videos that will form part of their case.

Kirimoni also claimed that the suspects have no permanent place of abode where they can be traced if granted bond.

He added that they might abscond court due to the seriousness of the offence.

“There have been immense threats on the safety of the respondents and it is only fair and just that they be placed in custody pending completion of investigations,” read Kirimoni’s affidavit.

The fifteen students are Vincent Mosoti, Sheila Rotich, Ferdinard Lubisa, Annex Bahati, Erick Mulamba, Brian Kimeli, Martin Kabugi, Alfred Aloo, Daniel Luta and Stephen Omondi.

Others include Joshua Majimbo, Amon Kiprotich, Simatwa Moses, Brian Rotich and Amon Lenny.

The investigating officer said that the police will arrest more suspects and recover more stolen items with the help of the arraigned suspects.

The advocates representing the suspects, Sankale George and Amazon Koech asked the court to consider releasing their clients on bond as police complete their investigations pointing out that the students have been in custody for more than four days before they were arraigned in court.

The advocates dismissed the case by the detectives as mere allegations noting that releasing the suspects on bond would not affect their case in any way.