Kuresoi MP Alfred Mutai freed on Ksh.100K bond as court rejects 21-day detention bid

Mutai surrendered himself to officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday evening and was detained at Nakuru Police Station.

Earlier in the day, chaos erupted at the station as supporters of the legislator gathered demanding his release or arraignment.

The MP is suspected of involvement in violent clashes and a shooting incident that left multiple people injured during a youth empowerment event in his constituency. Mary Muoki reports.

On Tuesday afternoon, supporters of Kuresoi Member of Parliament Alfred Mutai staged demonstrations outside Nakuru Police Station, where the legislator had been held since Monday evening.

The rowdy supporters protested what they termed as the continued detention of the MP, accusing police of deliberately delaying his arraignment to ensure he spent another night in custody.

"Tunajua wanataka ku-delay ndio alale tena mara ya pili. Ile kitu wamepanga ni kupeleka Mutai kortini saa kumi na moja jioni ndio adelay asitoke ili akipewa bail tuchelewe kulipa alale tena ndani. Ni instructions from above," said Rongai MP Paul Chebor.

Felistes Malakit, a Nakuru resident, claimed: "Tunataka mheshimiwa awachiliwe, na mambo ya kuwa discriminative tunaona ni orders from above."

The MP is accused of involvement in the violent chaos that rocked a youth empowerment event in his constituency on Friday. At least three people were injured and several vehicles damaged during the event, which was attended by, among others, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika.

Police have linked the legislator to the violence, which also resulted in the destruction of property. Mutai surrendered to authorities on Monday and was detained after being questioned by investigators.

Seemingly heeding the supporters' demands, police escorted the lawmaker to court under tight security, where he appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Vincent Adet.

Detectives had filed a miscellaneous application seeking to detain Mutai for 21 more days as they investigated allegations of arson and malicious damage to property. However, Magistrate Adet released Mutai on a bond of Ksh.100,000 with a surety or an alternative cash bail of Ksh. 50,000.

The court held that mere suspicion, however strong, cannot justify the deprivation of liberty.

Magistrate Vincent Adet ruled: "In the present circumstances, I find that the applicant has failed to demonstrate compelling reasons to warrant the detention of the respondent for 21 days or at all. The application dated June 23, 2026, seeking to detain the respondent for 21 days is hereby dismissed."

The magistrate directed Mutai to report to the investigating officer every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until the 21-day period lapses.

On Monday, the High Court in Nakuru also released 12 suspects arrested in connection with the incident, declining a police request to detain them for 21 days to allow for further investigations.