Eight young men are now being branded as terrorists by the government simply because of a protest-related incident at Mawego Police Station in Rachuonyo North.
This move, widely seen as a misuse of the law, shows how the state is now stretching its powers to punish dissent.
These youths, arrested over the July 3 fire incident at the station, have now been formally charged with terrorism, a charge that many believe is excessive and politically motivated.
On July 15, 2025, the eight appeared before Kahawa Law Courts under tight security. The atmosphere outside the courtroom was tense, and inside, it was clear that the state was treating this like a national security matter, not an ordinary case of alleged criminal damage.
Among the accused are Kennedy Oluoch Oluoch, Nicholas Otieno, Tofiq Owiti Mohamed, Michael Omondi Opiyo, David Bill Clinton Otieno, Robert Ouko Abala, Samuel Ouma Odhiambo, and Erick Obunga Osumba.
The government has decided to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act to silence and punish these young men.
It does not matter that they have all pleaded not guilty. What matters to the state is that they make an example of them. They’ve been charged with terrorism, arson, and malicious property damage.
Their initial detention in Oyugis was extended by shifting them to Nairobi’s Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, a disturbing signal that the state is now willing to treat ordinary citizens like dangerous extremists just because they participated in or were linked to a protest.
This is not about justice. It is about fear. It is about control.
The prosecution has also strongly opposed their release on bail. The excuse given is that they pose a public safety risk.
But their lawyers rightly argued that they have a constitutional right to bail, and no court should punish someone before they are found guilty.
Despite this, Hon. Richard Koech, the magistrate handling the case, declined to give an immediate decision and instead pushed the bail ruling to July 22.
Until then, all eight are to remain locked up at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, a place meant for hardened criminals, not youths facing protest-related charges.
This case is another clear sign that both the government and the judiciary are working together to suppress citizens who speak out.
The use of terrorism charges in protest cases is a dangerous trend. It sets the stage for criminalizing political dissent and turning courts into tools of intimidation.
Instead of addressing the reasons people are angry and taking to the streets, the state is choosing to jail and silence them. These eight young men are now victims of a government more interested in crushing opposition than listening to its people.
And the judiciary, by entertaining such heavy-handed tactics, is no longer serving justice it is becoming part of the oppression.
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