Kenya: Court Orders Unconditional Release of Eight Arrested At Linda Mwananchi Church Service

What the report says

Capital FM, in a report distributed by AllAfrica, says the Kisumu Law Courts ordered the release of eight people who had been arrested during a church service in Kisumu attended by members of the Linda Mwananchi movement. The court also directed that the eight should not be charged further in relation to the incident, according to the report dated July 27, 2026.

The accused were represented in court by Senior Counsel James Orengo and Babu Owino. Capital FM reported that Orengo contested the legality of the arrests and argued during the proceedings that prosecutors were trying to advance charges they could not sustain. He also characterized the matter as linked to the use of state institutions in political disputes.

After the ruling, Orengo welcomed the decision, saying the court had upheld justice by ordering the eight released without conditions, according to the account. The court’s directive required their immediate release and barred additional charges stemming from the same matter.

The report does not provide details on the specific reasons police gave for the arrests, the identities of the eight people detained, or any response from prosecutors or police. The case is notable because it centers on arrests made at a religious gathering involving a civic or political movement, and because the court’s order prevents the state from pursuing further charges arising from that episode.