Eight key suspects linked to the July 3, 2025, arson attack on Mawego Police Station in Rachuonyo North Sub-County were Tuesday July 15, 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.
The suspects appeared before the Kahawa Law Courts on Tuesday, where they were formally charged with three offences. The first charge was committing a terrorist act, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). The second was arson, contrary to Section 332 of the Penal Code, and the third was malicious damage to property, contrary to Section 339 of the Penal Code.
All the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution opposed their release on bond, a move that was contested by the defence. Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Koech scheduled the case for mention on July 22, 2025, when the court will deliver a ruling on the bond application. In the meantime, the accused will remain in custody at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.
