DPP gets 30 more days in Mawego Police Station arson case

The Director of Public Prosecutions has been given 30 more days to review case files in the ongoing prosecution of eight suspects linked to the arson attack at Mawego Police Station in Homa Bay County.

Kahawa Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Koech issued the extension during a court mention, allowing the prosecution more time to assess case documents and evaluate the full report on the incident.

The case will now be mentioned again on September 29, 2025.

The suspects – Kennedy Oluoch, Nicholus Otieno, Tofiq Owiti Mohammed, Michael Omondi Opiyo, David Bill Clinton Otieno, Samuel Ouma, Robert Ouko Abala, and Erick Obunga Osumba – are facing charges of terrorism, arson, and malicious damage to property.

They are accused of torching the Mawego Police Station, an act that left the entire structure in ruins.

The charges include committing a terrorist act under section 4(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, arson under section 332 of the Penal Code, and malicious damage to property under section 339 of the Penal Code.

All eight were first arraigned in court on July 15, 2025, where they pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Seven of them were released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 each, while Abala remained in custody at the time.

During Thursday’s court session, Magistrate Koech reviewed Abala’s bail terms and ordered that he be granted the same bond conditions as the rest of the accused.

He also ruled that all the suspects may appear virtually in future hearings if they choose to.

The prosecution told the court it needed more time to review the files and finalise an evaluation report related to the destruction caused by the attack.

The incident has drawn public attention due to the nature of the charges, especially the terrorism count, which is a capital offence under Kenyan law.