A Nairobi High Court has denied Constable Klinzy Baraza, attached to Kayole Police Station, bail and bond pending the hearing and determination of his murder case.
Klinzy is accused of killing Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a mask hawker, outside Imenti House in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) during protests on June 17, 2025.
While denying him bail, Lady Justice Margaret Muigai on Monday, February 9, 2026, cited the need to protect the victim’s family members and witnesses in the case.
Justice Muigai noted that, according to reports by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), some witnesses fear that the accused might harm them if released.
“The bail and bond application is denied to protect the victim, family members, and crucial, vulnerable, and key witnesses who, according to ODPP and IPOA reports, fear harm. This will also prevent possible interference with witnesses,” Justice Muigai ruled.
The DPP, through Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Gikui Gichui, told the court that the probation report presented raised concerns about potential interference with victims and witnesses by the accused.
On November 19, 2025, Gichui also noted that there was a need to deny the accused bail to ensure public safety due to the gravity and seriousness of the offence.
In addition, the DPP raised concerns about the accused’s attendance in court during the hearing of his case if released on bail.
“My Lady, one of the considerations in bond and bail issues, apart from interference, public safety, and the gravity and seriousness of the offence, is whether the accused person will attend court,” State Counsel Gichui told the court.
The State further told the court that the pre-bail report did not indicate how the accused would fund his travel to attend trial proceedings since he intended to move to his rural home. It also noted that the probation report did not clearly state where the rural home is located.
“My Lady, the accused was based in Kayole, but now he intends to go home. We do not have sufficient information about where that locality is or who will be responsible for him. We therefore have a high fear that he may abscond and fail to attend court,” Gichui submitted.
Notably, the court heard that should it eventually consider granting the accused bail and bond, it should only do so after key witnesses have testified.
“My Lady, we contend that before bail is granted, our key witnesses should be heard by this court to sufficiently safeguard the integrity of their testimony,” State Counsel Gichui said.
“We therefore request the court not to grant bail at this moment and to allow our key witnesses to testify,” he added.
