Thirty-four people arrested during anti-government demonstrations have pleaded not guilty to 14 counts levelled against them at Mavoko law courts in Machakos county.
They were denied bail after the prosecution opposed their application.
The suspects, including a 60–year-old man, are said to be among those who vandalised the Nairobi Expressway in Mlolongo during the protests on July 19.
Nine out of the 34 were arrested along Nairobi-Namanga road in Athi River on the same day.
Some of the suspects have been in police custody since July 19 after the DCI made a miscellaneous application in court requesting for more time to enable them conclude their investigation. The court granted the investigating authority seven days that ended on Monday.
All the suspects were produced in court on Tuesday. The defendants who appeared before principal magistrate Silas Kandie pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The counts included sabotaging government property, burning a police vehicle and five counts of assaulting police officers.
The suspects were also charged with taking part in a fight with intent to cause a breach of the peace.
The suspects pleaded with the court to grant them lenient bond terms stating that they had been in police custody since July 19 after they were arrested.
The prosecution, however, opposed the requests citing various grounds including that the respondents are charged with serious offences.
The suspects were denied their bail requests. The court directed that they all be remanded at Athi River prison until July 31 they will be returned to court for their bond requests’ determination.
