Ten suspects arrested over the weekend following chaotic scenes at the Linda Mwananchi rally have been arraigned before the Kisumu Law Courts to face felony charges linked to political violence.
Court Proceedings
The suspects appeared before Chief Magistrate Benson Ireri and denied the charges. The court released them on a Sh30,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount, or an alternative Sh10,000 cash bail.
Magistrate Ireri rejected a prosecution application seeking to detain the suspects for 14 more days to allow investigations, ruling that the accused did not pose a security threat and had a constitutional right to bail. He noted that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) could continue its inquiries including analysis of the suspects’ mobile phones while they are out on bond.
Arrests and Charges
According to the charge sheet, the suspects were arrested in Kisumu by DCI officers who had been trailing them over suspicions of planning violence. Police reported recovering crude weapons including daggers and knives from a saloon car the suspects were travelling in.
The accused are:
- Shadrack Aula
- Collins Omondi
- Patrick Bunde
- Earnest Masheti
- Silas Odero
- Dickson Ochieng
- Hemile Omondi
- Clifford Juma
- David Omolo
- Pater Okoth
Next Steps
The matter is scheduled for mention on March 14, 2026. Investigations into the alleged planning and possession of weapons are ongoing.
