Drama outside Thika Law Courts as mothers of detained protesters threaten to strip over Sh100k bail

A cry for justice turned bitter on Wednesday after protesters arrested during the Saba Saba demonstrations were arraigned in Thika Law Courts and slapped with hefty bail conditions.

The protesters, accused of terrorism-related offences, were ordered released on a cash bail of Sh100,000 each; a figure families and rights groups have termed excessive and punitive.

The charges and bail conditions triggered emotional scenes outside the court.

Wails filled the air as parents and relatives of the accused pleaded for justice.

"This is injustice!" one mother shouted as others cried uncontrollably.

A grandmother, standing in a police truck, strained to be heard as she demanded the release of her grandson. Inside the court precincts, chaos ensued as families refused to leave, with some mothers threatening to strip in protest.

Extremely sad scenes outside Thika law courts. The families of the accused have refused to leave and the mothers have threatened to strip if their sons will not be released. The cash bail was set at 100K pic.twitter.com/LmOylxhaLO

- Hanifa ?? ?? (@Honeyfarsafi) July 16, 2025

Police officers restrained the crowds and blocked access to certain areas of the court, further fueling tensions.

Online, netizens expressed their anger.

On X, one user questioned the legality of the charges, "Protesting is anchored in the Constitution. Why the punitive bail terms for something that's already allowed in law?"

Others demanded urgent intervention by the Judiciary to lower the bail and ensure justice for the youth involved.

However, not all sympathized with the detained.

Some defended the police action, arguing that the protests had devolved into chaos and looting.

"The folks supporting these kids are hypocrites," wrote Nick Ouma. "When they face the law for lawlessness during maandamano, you castigate the process."

This comes as the Judicial Service Commission condemned what it described as a growing wave of personal attacks against judicial officers over bail and bond rulings.

In a statement, the commission's secretary, Winfridah Mokaya, said the attacks, following decisions made by the Nanyuki and Kahawa law courts, undermine the rule of law and threaten the independence of the Judiciary.

"Such conduct misrepresents the Judiciary's constitutional role, undermines judicial independence and corrodes public trust in the administration of justice, a cornerstone of our democratic society," Mokaya stated.

The Commission further noted that bail and bond rulings are guided by legal frameworks, not personal opinions, including the Constitution, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Judiciary's Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines.

JSC noted that any party dissatisfied with a court ruling has the constitutional right to seek redress through appeals or reviews.