Five Maranda Students Granted Ksh30,000 Bail Over Arson Charges

Five Maranda High School students received Sh30,000 cash bail each from a Bondo court on Thursday after pleading not guilty to arson charges related to a dormitory fire.
The five students were part of a group of 12 detained last Monday in connection with the incident. They stood before Bondo Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti and denied the arson allegations.
According to the prosecution, on May 24, 2026, the defendants collectively, intentionally, and illegally set fire to the Owino ‘B’ dormitory at Maranda High School, causing damage estimated at Sh2.8 million.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) stated that after comprehensive investigations, charges were filed against only five individuals.
Four of the initially apprehended students will now serve as prosecution witnesses. The remaining three students were released without any charges due to insufficient evidence connecting them to the incident.
During the bail hearing, defense attorney Lawi Ogutu advocated for a no-cost release for the accused, contending that their identities could be tracked through official education databases.
“The defendants are not likely to flee as their information is registered in the NEMIS system,” Mr. Ogutu informed the court.
Nevertheless, Magistrate Ogoti dismissed the request, supporting the ODPP’s recommendation for bail conditions that correspond to the seriousness of the Sh2.8 million property destruction.
The case has been set for preliminary review on June 15, 2026. The trial will be conducted over four days on June 22, 23, 29, and 30, 2026.