Five Maranda High School students were released on a KSh30,000 cash bail each by a Bondo Law Court on Thursday May 28, 2026 after denying charges of setting fire to a school dormitory.
The five were among 12 students arrested on Monday in connection with the incident. They appeared before Bondo Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti, where they pleaded not guilty to the arson charges.
The prosecution told the court that on May 24, 2026, the accused jointly, willfully, and unlawfully set fire to the Owino ‘B’ dormitory, property of Maranda High School. The damage to the facility is valued at Sh2.8 million.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) noted that following thorough investigations, charges were preferred against only five suspects.
Four of the initially arrested students will now testify as state witnesses. Meanwhile, the remaining three students were released without charges after investigators found insufficient evidence linking them to the incident.
During the bail application, defense lawyer Lawi Ogutu strongly urged the court to grant the suspects a free bond, arguing that they were easily trackable through official education databases.
”The suspects are not flight risks because their details have been captured in the NEMIS system,” Mr. Ogutu told the court.
However, Magistrate Ogoti rejected the application, aligning with the ODPP’s proposal for bond terms that reflect the severity of the Sh2.8 million property damage.
The case is scheduled for mention on June 15, 2026. The hearing will take place across four days on June 22, 23, 29, and 30, 2026.
