The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved and filed terrorism charges against 37 individuals arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts.
The charges follow the arrest of suspects in Kikuyu and Matuu area of Kiambu and Machakos Counties, respectively.
Among those arraigned are 25 individuals alleged to have committed a terrorist act on Wednesday, June 25, between 12:00 PM and 11:00 PM in Kikuyu.
The act resulted in damage to government facilities, including Kikuyu Probation Offices, Kikuyu Law Courts, Kikuyu Sub-County Offices, Kikuyu Chief’s Office, the Office of the Registrar of Persons, Kikuyu Sub-County Education Office, the Sub-County Accountant’s Office, Registrar of Lands Office, Dagoretti Police Post and the Kikuyu Deputy County Commissioner’s Office.
The suspects also face a separate charge of arson, with an alternative charge of malicious damage to property.
They were arraigned alongside two other individuals, Peter Kinyanjui Wanjiru, alias Kawanjiru, and Serah Wanjiku Thiga, who face similar charges.
The DPP further approved terrorism charges against 10 other individuals arrested in Matuu, Machakos County.
They are alleged to have committed a terrorist act on Wednesday, June 25, at Matuu Police Station, leading to the destruction of government property, including police vehicles, and the assault of officers on duty.
The prosecution confirmed to the court that the charges were instituted after perusal of the investigation files and independently made the decision to charge all 37 suspects with committing terrorist acts under Section of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The prosecution urged the court to find that the suspects were lawfully presented before the court and duly served with the charge sheets.
They further argued that the charges are properly before the court, the charge sheets are not defective, and the accused should proceed to take plea.
In response to claims that two individuals were allegedly kidnapped after being granted bail at Ruiru Law Courts, the DPP clarified that the individuals in question had not been charged at the time.
A miscellaneous application had been filed seeking custodial orders for Peter and Serah, and following a review of the file, the decision was made to charge them.
The prosecution reiterated that there is no malice in prosecuting the suspects and that the charges are not targeted at demonstrators but at individuals who allegedly chose to engage in acts of terrorism and destruction.
This followed an application by the suspects through their counsel seeking the court to bar the DPP from charging them with terrorist charges.
Gideon Kiaga directed that the suspects remain in custody until Thursday, July 10, when the court will deliver a ruling on the application by the suspects seeking to bar the DPP from charging them with terrorist charges.
