In a major reprieve for 42 Kenyans arrested during recent anti-government protests, the High Court in Thika has reviewed and reduced their cash bail from Ksh.100,000 to Ksh.30,000 each.
Presiding over the bail review application, Lady Justice Florence Muchemi ruled that the initial amount set by the lower court was excessive.
The suspects, who had been charged with robbery with violence—a charge their lawyers have described as “limping”—were arrested during the last wave of maandamano demonstrations.
“This is another win for justice and the Constitution,” said Embakasi East MP and advocate Babu Owino, who has been part of the legal team representing the accused.
The defense team, dubbed “The Big Bad Team” by the court in a moment of levity, had argued that the initial bail terms were punitive and amounted to unlawful detention of peaceful demonstrators.
