Seven Suspects in Mawego Police Station Arson Freed on Bail

NAIROBI – Seven of the eight men accused of orchestrating the July 3 arson attack on Mawego Police Station in Rachuonyo North, Homa Bay County, have been released on cash bail.

The suspects — Kennedy Oluoch Oluoch, Nicholas Otieno, Tofiq Owiti Mohamed, Michael Omondi Opiyo, David Bill Clinton Otieno, Samuel Ouma Odhiambo, and Erick Obunga Oumba — were each granted bail of Ksh.50,000 by a Nairobi court on Thursday. However, the sixth accused, Robert Ouko Abala, was denied cash bail and instead released on a Ksh.200,000 bond with two sureties of the same amount.

The eight are facing three serious charges: commission of a terrorist act under Section 4(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), arson under Section 332 of the Penal Code, and malicious damage to property under Section 339.

They were initially arraigned at the Oyugis Law Courts, where investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) labelled them as the masterminds of the violent attack. According to the DCI, the assault was carried out in coordination with others who are yet to be arrested.

Authorities allege that the suspects played key roles in the destruction of property during protests triggered by the death of local blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody — a case that has since ignited widespread public outrage.

All the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court has scheduled a pre-trial hearing for August 14, as investigations continue and efforts to apprehend additional suspects intensify.