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Hundreds of learners were caught up in the running battles between the anti-government protesters and the police over the Finance Bill in the past three weeks.

The protests saw some learners being arrested, and injured and studies disrupted in some schools.

Three students from Wareng High School are still being held at Eldoret GK Remand Prison since June 26 when they were arrested in connection with stealing and destruction of property valued at more than Sh150 million at Timba XO club during Anti-Finance Bill 2024/25 in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu county.

They had pleaded with the magistrate to set them free so they can resume their learning, arguing that they were suffering in remand prison.

“Your honour, we are pleading that you grant us a personal bond of Sh10,000 so that we can go back to school and continue with our studies instead of wasting away in remand prison,” pleaded the students after denying the charges facing them.

Their lawyer, Asseso Omollo, pleaded with the court for the release of the suspects on lenient bond terms, claiming that they were majorly college, high school and university students, from various institutions in Eldoret town.

“Some of the accused are students at Wareng High School and Rift Valley Technical Training Institute. I urge this court to consider releasing them on personal bond,” Omollo told the court.

In Nakuru county, a fourteen-year-old student was shot eleven times during the June 27 anti-finance bill protests. The boy had been sent to collect an asthma inhaler for his ailing mum when he was caught up in the protests, resulting in his shooting.

In Kikuyu constituency, Kiambu county, six suspects, including a form three student at a school in Kabete, were arrested in connection to the arson incident where the local NG-CDF offices were looted and torched. Police recovered some of the items allegedly stolen from the offices from the suspects.

Recovered by police

 The student was captured on CCTV footage fleeing with a Bluetooth speaker which was among the items recovered by police.

 The protests also disrupted learning in many schools across the country as many schools suspended lessons amid fears that the anti-government demonstrations could turn violent.

 “Due to the planned demonstrations on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, there will be no school as a precautionary measure. We shall resume classes on Wednesday, July 3, 2024,” read one message sent to parents.

In Kitengela, Kajiado county, hundreds of learners were caught in the protests as the protestors blocked the Nairobi-Namanga highway, interrupting transport in and out of the populous town.

School buses had a tough time manoeuvring through the blocked roads to drop pupils home. The buses were forced to drop the learners far away from their homes, making parents brave teargas as they picked up their sons and daughters from school.