Machakos, April 22, 2026
All 43 suspects arrested during Tuesday’s violent fuel protests in Machakos Town were denied bail today by a Machakos Court.
This happened as new details emerged on the scale of destruction and injuries recorded during the demonstrations.
The suspects, among them three minors, were presented before Senior Principal Magistrate James Ombura, who allowed the prosecution’s request for more time to complete investigations.
The court directed that the group remain in custody and return on Monday for arrignment and taking plea.
The arrests stem from protests that erupted in Machakos Town over rising fuel prices, where groups of youths took to the streets in demonstrations that later degenerated into running battles with police.
Businesses were forced to shut down as anti-riot officers lobbed tear gas to disperse crowds that had blocked sections of major roads, bringing activity in the town centre to a standstill for hours.
According to the prosecution, the unrest led to widespread destruction of property. State counsel Ms. L. Wataka told the court that Pizza Inn Machakos was broken into, with foodstuff and other items stolen, while Family Bank Machakos Branch sustained damage during the chaos.
The court also heard that a police vehicles—registration numbers GKB 165Y and another bearing number plates of the County Government of Machakos-16CG 149M—had their windscreens shattered, and an ambulance belonging to Machakos Level 5 Hospital was vandalized.
Seven police officers were injured in the course of the confrontation and are undergoing treatment, though authorities did not immediately disclose the severity of their injuries.
The protests were eventually contained at around 8 p.m., restoring calm after a day of heightened tension.
In opposing the suspects’ release, the prosecution argued that investigations were still ongoing, with key elements—including medical reports and documentation of exhibits—yet to be finalized.
They urged the court to allow custodial detention to preserve the integrity of the case.
Defense counsel Jackson Kala challenged the application, maintaining that detention should be a measure of last resort.
He told the court that several of those arrested were students, including candidates from Katumani Secondary School, Kitondo Secondary School, and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Machakos, and argued that some may have been caught up in the unrest unintentionally.
Mr. Kala further submitted that most of the suspects have known residences and family ties within the area, reducing the likelihood of flight.
His position was supported by lawyer Munyao, who argued that no material evidence had been presented in court directly linking the accused persons to the alleged acts of destruction.
The prosecution, however, countered that no supporting documentation had been availed at the time of arrest to confirm the students’ status, insisting that investigations were incomplete and required more time.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ombura directed that adult suspects be held in police cells, while the minors be placed in designated remand facilities, with instructions that they be properly identified and handled in accordance with the law.
The court proceedings now set the stage for Monday’s mention, where the state is expected to outline formal charges as investigations into the protests continue.
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