Eight Students Fined Sh2,000 Each For Taking Part In The Demonstrations On Monday

Students from Masinde Muliro University (MMUST) and locals who took to the streets on Monday were given a Sh2000 fine each.

The eight were accused of demonstrating illegally along the Kakamega-Webuye road when they appeared before Principal Magistrate Josephine Maragia. Due to their poverty, the eight pleaded with the judge to pass a light sentence or consider letting them go. Defense attorney Yvonne Khalai stated, “Your Honor, they were merely upset with the hard economic circumstances and came out in great numbers to make their wishes known.

They cannot afford the growing prices of food, petrol, and other necessities since they are the sons and daughters of peasants, she continued. Due to the shortage of Helb loans, which enable them to support themselves, the majority of them were suffering as Kenyan citizens and even more so as comrades. The eight, according to state attorney Duncan Bonzo, had no prior criminal history and did not protest to the court’s decision to consider them as such.