Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has revealed that the eight people apprehended on suspicion of torching the Mawego Police Station early this month have been released on bail.
In a statement after the eight appeared at the Kahawa Law Courts on Thursday, July 31, the lawmaker and advocate revealed that the eight were granted a cash bail of Ksh50,000 each.
However, he revealed that as the defendants' lawyer, he would be appealing the court's decision on the grounds that the suspects cannot afford bail.
"Today at Kahawa Law Courts, representing the Mawego 8 who have been released on cash bail of Ksh50,000 each," the MP stated.
"We will appeal this decision by the court because my clients can’t afford the cash bail, and it amounts to pretrial detention for the fishermen and Bodaboda riders from Homabay County. Nevertheless, this is yet another win for us after securing their release on bail and/or bond."
The eight are among dozens charged with terrorism in the aftermath of the June 25 and July 7 protests that left at least 60 people succumbing.
However, this specific group was apprehended for allegedly torching the Mawego Police Station on July 3, the day Albert Ojwang's body landed in Homabay after he was allegedly slain at the Central Police Station in Nairobi.
A mammoth crowd made a procession to the police station where Ojwang was first booked upon his arrest weeks earlier, but the situation took a turn when several structures at the station were torched.
On Tuesday, July 15, the eight were arraigned and charged at the Kahawa Law Courts with terrorism-related offences.
Charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 30 of 2012 and the Penal Code, some of their charges included commission of a terrorist act, arson, and malicious damage to property.
They had previously been held under custodial orders issued by the Oyugis Law Court before being re-arrested on July 14, 2025, following the closure of a miscellaneous application.
Just like Ojwang, they were also transferred to Nairobi to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) headquarters for further processing before their eventual arraignment.
