Thirty-six individuals arrested during the recent June 25th and Saba Saba protests have now formally taken plea on terrorism charges as the government intensifies its crackdown on protesters.
This follows the approval of charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Igonga. Among those facing charges are political allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Meanwhile, the court has released Manyatta MP John Mukunji on bail even as TikToker and businessman Godfrey Kakan Maiyo remains in police custody over incitement claims.
Two days after DPP Renson Igonga approved terrorism charges against 36 suspects linked to the June 25th and Saba Saba protests, all have now taken plea at the Kahawa Law Courts.
The group includes ten people from Matuu in Machakos, 24 from Kikuyu, and two from Kiambu — among them, political allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua: Peter Kinyanjui Wanjiru, alias Kawanjiru, and Serah Wanjiku Thiga.
The DPP alleges that the accused were involved in the destruction of public property in Kikuyu, including the law courts, probation office, sub-county offices, and the chief’s office, in what has been described as coordinated acts of domestic terrorism.
Meanwhile, Senior Magistrate Kipkemoi Koech has overruled a police application to detain Manyatta MP John Mukunji and two co-accused individuals for 14 more days. The court granted each a bail of Ksh.300,000.
In yet another case stemming from the crackdown on government critics, TikToker and businessman Godfrey Kakan Maiyo, who was arrested by DCI officers on Wednesday night, remains in custody at Muthaiga Police Station.
Authorities allege he incited violence against police officers and their families in a now-viral video.
“Your families will cry the same tears that these families cry. No amount of abduction, no amount of arrests, no amount of killings is going to make Kenyans go silent,” said Kakan Maiyo in the video cited by investigators.
His family, however, says they have not been informed of any formal charges and are demanding his immediate release.
“We’ve spoken. He told me he’s okay, he hasn’t been harmed. But this is a message to the government — the youth must be heard,” said Peter Malande, Kakan’s uncle.
“It doesn’t mean that when the youth speak, they are against the government. This is what we’re going through,” added Davis Silali, Kakan’s cousin.
Kakan is expected to be arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts.
