TERROR CHARGES SLAPPED ON MAWEGO POLICE STATION ARSON SUSPECTS

Eight key suspects linked to the July 3, 2025, arson attack on Mawego Police Station in Rachuonyo North Sub-County have today been arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts.

The suspects: Kennedy Oluoch Oluoch, Nicholas Otieno, Tofiq Owiti Mohamed, Michael Omondi Opiyo, David Bill Clinton Otieno, Robert Ouko Abala, Samuel Ouma Odhiambo, and Erick Obunga Osumba, had been detained under custodial orders issued by the Oyugis Law Court.

They were re-arrested on July 14, 2025, following closure of the miscellaneous application, and subsequently transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) headquarters in Nairobi, for arraignment under the Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 30 of 2012, along with additional offences under the Penal Code.

Appearing before the Kahawa Law Courts today, the suspects faced charges as follows:

Count I: Commission of a terrorist act, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).

Count II: Arson, contrary to Section 332 of the Penal Code.

Count III: Malicious damage to property, contrary to Section 339 of the Penal Code. All the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution opposed the granting of bond, an application that was contested by the defence.

The trial magistrate, Hon. Richard Koech, SPM, scheduled the matter for mention on July 22, 2025, for a bond ruling. In the meantime, the accused have been remanded at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.