High school students are among sixteen suspects accused of stealing and vandalizing Timba XO, a property associated with Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi. The suspects, aged between 17 and 24 years, including three high school students, have been held at Eldoret GK Remand Prison since their arrest on July 26.
The incident, which occurred during protests against the Anti-Finance Bill 2024/25 in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu county, resulted in property damage valued at over Sh150 million.
Timba XO is situated in the Annex area near Moi University School of Law along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway and is reportedly linked to MP Oscar Sudi, a close ally of President William Ruto.
During their court appearance for plea-taking, the young defendants, including the three Wareng High School students, requested release on bond to resume their studies, citing hardship in remand prison. However, Presiding Principal Magistrate Cherono Kesse declined their request for bond.
“Your honour, we are pleading that you grant us a personal bond of KSh10,000 so that we can go back to school and continue with our studies instead of wasting away in remand prison,” pleaded the students after denying the charges facing them.
The suspects are accused of being part of a group of protesters who allegedly raided the club in retaliation for the MP’s support of the controversial Finance Bill 2024. It is alleged that they stole and vandalized property at the club on June 25 during anti-tax bill protests in Eldoret town.
Their lawyer, led by Asseso Omollo, had applied in court for the suspects to be released on lenient bond terms. The defense argued that most of the accused are students from high schools, colleges, and universities in Eldoret town.
“Some of the accused are students at Wareng High School and Rift Valley Technical Training Institute. I urge this court to consider releasing them on personal bond,” Omollo told the court.
The Eldoret Principal Magistrate has instructed probation officers to provide a pre-bail report to assist in determining bail for the accused by Tuesday. She expressed reluctance to rule on bail without first confirming the status of the accused, following claims by their lawyers that some are secondary school students.
State counsel Jamlek Muriithi informed the court that the defense had not presented any documentation in court to substantiate the claim that some of the accused were students. The probation officer present in court assured that the report would be ready by July 9, the next mention date for the case.
The accused face multiple charges stemming from their alleged involvement in the violent Gen Z demonstrations on June 25 in Eldoret. The charges include theft, handling stolen property, and malicious damage to property at Timba XO Club.
The charge sheet alleges that the accused, along with others not present in court, unlawfully entered Timba XO lounge in the Annex area of Kesses sub-county along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway. They are accused of stealing various items valued at Ksh78,896,560, belonging to the club, including sound speakers, flat-screen TVs, laptops, and kitchen utensils.
Additionally, they are charged with maliciously damaging property within the club, including offices, a CCTV control room, alcohol counters, and electronics, valued at Sh80,000,000. Some of the suspects also face charges related to handling stolen goods.
