Justice Kimaru directed the students who have remained in custody since Monday to pay Sh5,000 cash bails to secure their freedom/FILE
The student had been ordered to deposit cash bails of Sh200,000 each by Magistrate Pamela Mugure but High Court judge Luka Kimaru set aside the decision.
Justice Kimaru directed the students who have remained in custody since Monday to pay Sh5,000 cash bails to secure their freedom.
READ: Students charged, to pay Sh200,000 cash bail each
The students through Mukele Ngacho & Company advocates moved to the High Court complaining that the bail terms set by the magistrate’s court were unreasonable.
Justice Kimaru heard that the magistrate failed to consider that the accused persons were students with no means of earning a livelihood and cannot afford Sh200,000.
“The accused persons are all students and their right to education is being curtailed by exorbitant cash bail terms,” the High Court was told.
The students have denied taking part in an unlawful assembly, malicious to damage property and assault on February 2 at around 11am, at Nation Centre on Kimathi Street.
According to the charge sheet, the students deliberately and unlawfully damaged three window glasses valued at Sh40,000, property of the Nation Media Group.
They were also accused of unlawfully assaulting photojournalist Salaton Njau of NMG and occasioning him bodily harm.
The demonstration followed an investigative piece aired on Nation TV which exposed irregularities in admissions and possible sale of fake certificates to students.
One of the accused students, Edwin Isoso faced a separate charge of being armed with stones in a public place, an act likely to cause terror among members of the public.
The management of the college since protested over the story, accusing NMG of malice.
READ: NTV exposé a witch hunt – Nairobi Aviation College
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