In a significant development, the High Court's International Criminal Division has granted bail to 36 former members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who were arrested in Kenya on terrorism charges. Justice Susan Okalany has set stringent conditions for their release, ordering each individual to pay a cash bail of 2 million shillings and deposit their passports and travel documents with the Deputy Registrar of the court ¹.
The court has also mandated the Deputy Registrar to notify the Emigration authorities of the travel ban imposed on the suspects. Furthermore, the 72 sureties for the suspects have been required to execute a non-cash bond of 50 million shillings each.
The bail conditions come with a critical caveat: if the state fails to commit the suspects for trial within six months, they will be automatically discharged along with their sureties.
This development follows the controversy surrounding the arrest and deportation of the FDC members from Kenya. The group, comprising 34 men and two women, was accused of traveling to Kenya to receive terrorism training ². However, their lawyers and party officials claimed they were attending a leadership and governance training course.
The case has sparked heated debates in Parliament, with some lawmakers questioning the legality of the arrest and the government's handling of the situation ². The FDC has maintained that the charges are "flimsy" and that the arrest was an attempt to silence the opposition.
The International Criminal Division of the High Court was established in 2008 to try cases related to war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, terrorism, and human trafficking ³. This case highlights the court's role in addressing serious crimes and ensuring accountability.
As the case unfolds, the fate of the 36 FDC members hangs in the balance. Will they be cleared of the terrorism charges, or will the state present compelling evidence to secure a conviction? Only time will tell.
In a significant development, the High Court's International Criminal Division has granted bail to 36 former members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who were arrested in Kenya on terrorism charges. Justice Susan Okalany has set stringent conditions for their release, ordering each individual to pay a cash bail of 2 million shillings and deposit their passports and travel documents with the Deputy Registrar of the court ¹.
The court has also mandated the Deputy Registrar to notify the Emigration authorities of the travel ban imposed on the suspects. Furthermore, the 72 sureties for the suspects have been required to execute a non-cash bond of 50 million shillings each.
The bail conditions come with a critical caveat: if the state fails to commit the suspects for trial within six months, they will be automatically discharged along with their sureties.
This development follows the controversy surrounding the arrest and deportation of the FDC members from Kenya. The group, comprising 34 men and two women, was accused of traveling to Kenya to receive terrorism training ². However, their lawyers and party officials claimed they were attending a leadership and governance training course.
The case has sparked heated debates in Parliament, with some lawmakers questioning the legality of the arrest and the government's handling of the situation ². The FDC has maintained that the charges are "flimsy" and that the arrest was an attempt to silence the opposition.
The International Criminal Division of the High Court was established in 2008 to try cases related to war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, terrorism, and human trafficking ³. This case highlights the court's role in addressing serious crimes and ensuring accountability.
As the case unfolds, the fate of the 36 FDC members hangs in the balance. Will they be cleared of the terrorism charges, or will the state present compelling evidence to secure a conviction? Only time will tell.