A court in Eldoret has freed 17 youths who were arrested during the Monday matatu strike and detained by police for longer than the 24 hours required by law.
Principal Magistrate Keyne Gweno said police acted illegally by holding the youths beyond the stipulated time before they were brought before the court.
“The reason why I have released you is that you were detained longer than required by the police. You were arrested on May 18th and brought to court on May 20," Gweno said.
The youths, who were arrested around Huruma area, had been taken to court on Wednesday and freed on Sh3,000 cash bail.
They had been charged that on the 18th day of May, 2026, at Huruma and Baharini estates along the Eldoret-Uganda Highway in Turbo Sub-county within Uasin Gishu County, jointly with others not before the court, wilfully obstructed the operations of the said highway by lighting bonfires, erecting barricades using stones and blocking the free flow of traffic without lawful authority.
When the matter came up for mention, Magistrate Gweno said he had gone through the court papers and established that the youths were illegally detained for too long by police.
The youths had earlier changed their plea, during which they denied the offence, but later opted to admit to the charges and asked for forgiveness from the court.
Gweno asked each of the youths to explain what they did that led to their arrest. Most of them admitted that they participated in blocking the road to protest against high fuel prices.
“For me, my work was to bring stones which were used during the protests. I only gave out the stones for others to use in the protests," said one of the youths.
The court, however, issued a warrant of arrest against four of the youths who escaped after being arrested.
Magistrate Gweno directed that the youths be refunded the cash bail they had paid before being released.
“You are now free, but do not repeat the same mistake. You have to be law-abiding citizens," said Gweno.
