63 youths arrested in Machakos during protests to remain in custody

Policeman clears the road blocked by youths in Kitengela during Saba Saba protests, on July 7, 2025. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

At least 63 youths who were arrested by the police during Saba Saba demonstrations in Machakos will remain in custody for 10 days.

Machakos Senior Principal Magistrate, Betty Koech on Tuesday granted the prosecution's application to have the respondents detained in Machakos Police Station, to conclude investigations into the demonstrations that left dozens injured and property of unknown value destroyed.

The court freed five minors aged between 11 and 17 years who were arrested during the skirmishes that paralysed operations in the town on Monday.

In justifying the plea to have the suspected detained, the prosecution alleged that the key witnesses, including 10 police officers were nursing serious injuries inflicted by the protesters, and sufficient time was required to piece together evidence.

The prosecution further told the court that police involved in the investigations were yet to retrieve CCTV footage that would be relied upon to build their case.

Citing numerous police reports contained in the Occurrence Book (OB) reported on the material day, the prosecution claimed that police were investigating incidents of assault, grievous harm and arson, all reported at the Machakos Police Station.

But lawyer Jackson Kala, representing the respondents, accused the police of dragging their feet in processing the prosecution of the protesters.

"An accused person must be informed promptly of the reason for their arrest. The miscellaneous application by the State is vague because up to this point, the youths have not been told why they were arrested. The police have a duty to apportion blame on every individual respondent and not a blanket accusation," lawyer Kala told the court.

He argued that the miscellaneous application was a ploy by the police to continue detaining the respondents, which was against their constitutional rights.

"The fact that the police have failed to produce charges up to this point demonstrates that they are on a fishing expedition," he said.

The lawyer urged the court to consider the fact that majority of the suspects were university and college students whose physical addresses were verifiable and therefore not a flight risk.

The magistrate set the mention date for July 15, 2025.