Babu Owino Secures Release of 'FBI' Team after Court Grants Them KSh 50k Bail Each
- Three members of Kenya’s FBI movement were released on cash bail after days of pressure over their arrest on national security charges
- The group, including ex-officers and activists, was accused of plotting attacks, recruiting insiders, and possessing restricted gear
- Magistrate Richard Koech granted bail with conditions, including weekly reporting and no contact with witnesses or involvement in crime
- Embakasi East MP Babu Owino led a high-powered legal team that secured the trio’s release at Kahawa Law Courts
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Three members of the Fighting Brutality and Impunity (FBI) movement have been released after the Kahawa Law Courts granted them cash bail.
Source: Facebook
Their release on Friday, August 8, followed days of public scrutiny and growing support for the group’s controversial activism against state excesses.
The trio, Patrick Nyambaka Osoi, a former KDF officer; Jackson Kuria Kihara alias Cop Shakur, an activist and ex-prison officer; and constable Hiram Kimathi, had been arrested in separate swoops late last month.
The state accused them of planning attacks on security personnel, recruiting current and former officers, and possessing restricted items, including firearms and military gear.
Their release was announced by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who took a direct role in the legal process and was among several advocates present in court.
"Today at Kahawa Law Courts, we secured the freedom of the FBI Team — Fighting Brutality and Impunity in Kenya. They were released on cash bail of KSh 50,000 each. A big thank you to all the Advocates who played a role in the release of Cop Shakur, Cop Kimathi, and Osoi," Babu posted.
Owino listed at least ten lawyers involved in the case, signalling a strong legal effort behind the scenes.
Among the legal team were Dancun Okatch, Abner Mango, Wanjira Maina, Noordean Khagai, and John Maina.
What condition did court give Kenya's 'FBI' members?
The Kahawa Law Courts, known for handling terrorism and serious security-related cases, had earlier heard arguments from state prosecutors seeking custodial orders.
The prosecution claimed the trio posed a national security threat and were involved in a plot to wage war against uniformed officers.
According to affidavits submitted by Chief Inspector Josephine Korir, intelligence received on July 28 linked the group to a "movement whose sole purpose is to fight legal orders and recruit others to defy the state."
Source: UGC
Magistrate Richard Koech, however, ruled that the three should be released under strict conditions.
"Having considered the entire circumstances of this matter, I do allow the possibility of application in terms of prayers 3 and 4, which is for searches and exploitation of electronic objects. I do proceed to admit each respondent to the court of bond KSh 200,000 with a surety of a similar amount, or a cash bail of KSh 50,000," the magistrate ruled.
He further stated that each respondent must report weekly to investigators and avoid contact with witnesses or involvement in criminal activity.
"Each respondent shall avail themselves before the applicant for purposes of facilitating the conduct of investigations once every week, for such a period as may be deemed appropriate by the investigators. And that each respondent shall avail themselves in court, as and when required, until this matter is finalised," he explained.
How were Kenya's 'FBI' members arrested?
On July 30, DCI officers arrested Osoi along Lang’ata Road, allegedly in possession of a firearm.
That same day, Cop Shakur was picked up in Kahawa West, wearing a red beret marked with the FBI insignia.
Kimathi was tracked and arrested a day later in Kinoru village, Meru county.
The state’s decision to pursue terrorism-like charges drew criticism from civil rights advocates, who argued the arrests were politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
