BONDO, Kenya — Seventeen suspects arrested over the alleged disruption of a public participation forum on a proposed nuclear power plant in Bondo Sub-County have been released on cash bail or bond after a court declined a prosecution request to detain them for further investigations.
The suspects appeared before Bondo Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti, who ordered their release on a Sh.15,000 cash bail or an alternative bond of Sh.50,000 each pending the conclusion of police investigations.
The arrests followed an incident during a public participation meeting held in Central Sakwa Location on Friday, where police allege a group of youths disrupted the forum, attacked government officials and vandalised vehicles in the officials’ motorcade.
Police Probe Disruption of Public Forum
According to police, the 17 suspects were arrested a day after the incident during operations conducted in Ka’John, Lenya and Nango trading centres.
Investigators are probing allegations that the suspects participated in the disruption of the government-led public engagement exercise on the proposed nuclear power project.
The prosecution asked the court to allow investigators more time to complete inquiries, indicating they were considering possible terrorism-related charges.
Court Rejects Detention Request
Chief Magistrate Ogoti, however, declined the prosecution’s application, ruling that the reasons presented were not sufficient to justify continued detention of the suspects.
The court held that the prosecution had failed to demonstrate compelling grounds to deny the accused persons their constitutional right to bail while investigations continue.
As part of the bail conditions, the magistrate directed all 17 suspects to report to the area Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCIO) office on July 28, July 30 and August 3, 2026.
The reporting requirement is intended to facilitate the completion of investigations before the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) determines whether formal charges should be preferred against the suspects.
ODPP to Decide on Charges
The court heard that police are expected to forward the investigation file to the ODPP upon completion of inquiries.
The prosecution will then determine whether there is sufficient evidence to charge the suspects over the alleged disruption of the public participation exercise.
