Written By Lisa Murimi
Seventeen young Kenyans were arraigned before the Molo Law Courts on Thursday, facing charges of vandalism, destruction, and theft from area MP Kuria Kimani’s property on June 25.
The suspects were accused of damaging property valued at Ksh 16 million, including vehicles, livestock, and furniture, and of stealing items during the recent anti-finance bill protests.
The accused denied all charges and were released on a Ksh5,000 bond following a successful application by their lawyer. The attorney questioned the validity of some charges, calling them malicious, and argued that most suspects were law-abiding citizens. The case will be mentioned again on August 19, 2024.
MP Kuria Kimani, who chairs the National Assembly Finance Committee, claimed that protesters targeted his rural home due to his support for the now-withdrawn Finance Bill, 2024. He reported significant losses, including two burned vehicles, a damaged third vehicle, the theft of 10,000 chickens, six grade cows, and 29 goats, along with vandalism of his two-storey house.
Police are investigating the incident, aiming to recover the stolen livestock and apprehend those responsible for the looting. Kimani’s property was among several owned by public officials that were damaged during the nationwide protests, with Parliament also experiencing significant destruction.
In a related incident, 16 other individuals in Eldoret faced similar charges for stealing from the Timba XO club, owned by Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi. Sudi has since forgiven those involved and announced the nightclub’s indefinite closure for repairs.
