Turkana South MP John Namoit Ariko has been freed on bond by an Eldoret court after spending the weekend in custody.
Ariko, alongside eight others, was charged in connection with the alleged assault of Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomurukai's son.
Ariko was arrested in Eldoret Thursday night, December 26, but was released and and he presented himself in court on Friday.
Senior Resident Magistrate Cherono Kesse initially ordered the suspects to remain in custody until Monday, December 30, when she was set to deliver a ruling on their bail application.
On Monday, the magistrate granted the suspects release on a cash bail of Sh150,000 each or an alternative surety of Sh300,000.
“The accused have the right to be freed on bond and I order that they be released on a cash bail of Sh150,000 each," the magistrate said.
Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo was in court to represent the suspects who were ordered to appear in court on January 20, 2025 for the mention of the case.
Otiende questioned why the case was moved to Eldoret from Turkana and said they would also oppose the charges levelled against the accused.
He claimed that the cases were political.
The MP and the other suspects were charged with various separate offenses, which they denied and applied to be released on bond.
Ariko faced two counts of conspiracy to defeat justice contrary to Section 117(a) of the penal code.
Police alleged that the MP on diverse dates between April 29, 2024 and May, at unknown place within the Republic of Kenya with others not before court, jointly conspired to falsely accuse the governor’s son, who is a juvenile and one Lavish Esiwet Ekamais of the offense of abducting one Sammy Ekitela alias Whensonko.
"On diverse dates between 29th day of April 2024 and 2nd day of May, 2024 at unknown time and place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court knowingly prevented the execution of a criminal process by police officers," the second count reads.
“It’s not true your honour,” the MP said when the charges were read to him.
The other suspects who were also charged with various offenses include Peter Lokutuni, Davis Nangiro, Jemostar Akooyen, Bornfestus Nabuin, Joseph Ekitela, Sammy Ekitela and James Abel.
They faced another count of assaulting the juvenile and occasioning him actual bodily harm on April 29, 2024.
The offences were allegedly committed at Cherinas Homes within Turkana Central.
Some of the suspects also faced other charges including possession of suspected stolen property and forgery.
The prosecution led by Mark Mugun had objected to the release of the suspects on bail arguing that they may interfere with witnesses.
Mugun said the case had been moved to Eldoret because of the safety of the victims in the matter.
Lawyer for the victims, Richard Warigi, also opposed bail application arguing that some of the suspects had already used social media to intimidate the victims.