Court proceedings in Milimani Magistrate Court on June 26, 2025/JAMES GICHIGITwo sports figures, former Harambee Stars player Robert Otiti and renowned boxing coach Suleiman Bilali, were on Thursday arraigned in a Nairobi court over allegations of infiltration of peaceful June 25 demonstrations through online posts.
In a miscellaneous application filed on Thursday, the prosecution alleged that the two were among suspected individuals who plotted to infiltrate protests using a circulated timetable that called for the “takeover and occupation of State House.”
They allege the suspects received intelligence information that a timetable was circulating in various social media platforms and that the said application was traced to an X account “daguindd.”
“That the criminal activities were planned and funded by a network of suspects that include the respondents and others who still remain at large and are yet to be arrested,” the application read.
The court heard that the suspects were arrested on June 24 before the protests.
The investigating officer sought to detain the suspects for 10 more days to allow further investigations, citing the need for forensic analysis of their mobile phones, retrieval of M-Pesa statements, and concerns over possible interference with witnesses.
However, the defence team, led by lawyer Babu Owino alongside Law Society of Kenya representative Abner Mango, opposed the application.
They argued that the suspects were unlawfully held beyond the constitutionally mandated 24-hour period, having been arrested on the night of June 24 and only presented in court on June 26.
The defence termed the detention a violation of their constitutional rights.
They also pointed out that the suspects were denied police bond and that the application to continue holding them lacked compelling justification.
“It’s a fishing expedition,” Owino said, claiming the case was based on conjecture, not evidence.
LSK’s Abner Mango told the court the suspects were arrested from their homes in the presence of their families.
Suleiman said he was watching football before the police arrested him.
Otiti, who was detained at Capitol Hill police station, told the court he felt safe and was treated well, despite the dramatic arrest involving five vehicles, including a Subaru and a Probox and heavily armed officers.
The defence maintained that the real owner of the account in question is missing and that a report had already been filed at Kinoo police station.
They urged the court to reject the request for extended detention and instead release the suspects on free bond.
“The court deems this matter has key issues to be addressed and having interrogated both suspects be put at Capitol Hill police station tonight and I will deliver a ruling tomorrow on June 27, 2025,” Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego ruled.
