Fifteen youths have been presented before an Eldoret Court in connection with last week’s Finance Bill protests in the town.
They appeared before Chief Magistrate Dennis Mikoyan as police sought 21 days to hold them in custody to complete an investigation into crimes they are alleged to have committed during the protests.
Investigations officer Ekiru Kirimoni told the court that the youths were being investigated for crimes including stealing, handling suspected stolen goods and malicious property damage.
He argued that the accused had no known fix aboard and that they should also remain in custody for their safety.
Those presented before the court include Vincent Ragila, Sheila Rotich, Ferdinand Lubisa, Annex Bahati, Eric Mulamba, Brian Kimeli, Martin Kabugi, Alfred Oloo, Daniel Shananji and Stephen Omonji.
Others are Joshua Majimbo, Amos Kiprotich, Moses Simawatwa, Brian Rotich and Amon Lenny.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi was named in court as one of the complainants in the case. His club Timber XO was stoned, vandalised and looted during the protests.
In an affidavit filed before the court, the investigation officer said that on June 26, there were protests on the Finance Bill in Eldoret town and that at about noon some of the protesters moved along the Eldoret Nakuru road to the location of the club.
“They were chanting reject Finance Bill and Sudi must go until they gained entry into the club after broke the main entry” reads the affidavit in part.
The affidavit lists some of the assorted items stolen from the club including sound systems, televisions, laptops, electronics, utensils, water pumps, gas cylinders and others whose total value is yet to be ascertained.
Ekiru told the court that some of the stolen items had since been recovered from some of those in court.
The officer told the court that more than ten officers were injured during the violent protests and that some cars were also destroyed among other properties.
Lawyer George Sunkule who is among those representing the youth rejected the application by police to hold the youth in custody.
He argued that they had already been illegally held in custody for more than the 24 hours required under the law.
“They were simply exercising their right to demonstrate and picket and it seems the police have nothing to charge them for. We demand that they be released in a Sh5,000 police bond each," Sunkule said.
He said seven of them were injured and have not been treated so far.
Mikoyan ordered that they be detained at the Eldoret GK Prison until Thursday when he will rule in the application by the police.
