FREEDOM: Court Frees 48 Youths Arrested In Isiolo Over ‘Drug Peddling’
Over 40 young men who were arrested in a security operation in Isiolo shortly after President William Ruto finished his tour to the region have been released.
On Monday, February 10, 2025, the 48 adolescents were arraigned at Isiolo Law Courts and entered a plea.
They were represented by a group of advocates from the Law Society of Kenya.
In a message released on her official X account, LSK President Faith Odhiambo revealed that the court ordered their release after hearing the appeal.
According to Odhiambo, the court released them under Section 35 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).
The 48 youth arrested in Isiolo were arraigned in court today, where they were represented by our team of Advocates. They took plea, and the court ordered their release. The court discharged them pursuant to section 35 of the CPC. pic.twitter.com/Ap8F2CCwNI
— Faith Odhiambo (@FaithOdhiambo8) February 10, 2025
“The 48 youth arrested in Isiolo were arraigned in court today, where they were represented by our team of Advocates,” Odhiambo stated.
“They took plea, and the court ordered their release. The court discharged them pursuant to section 35 of the CPC.”
The young people were arrested after police conducted a crackdown on Friday and Saturday.
County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding told the media on Sunday that police are pursuing drug peddlers, muggers, and illegal alcohol dealers in the county.
Individuals loitering in the town after midnight were also apprehended.
According to the county commissioner, the operation will continue in the following days, despite widespread criticism from Kenyans online over how the individuals were arrested.
On Friday, February 7, 2025, as President Ruto was wrapping up his visit to the North Eastern area of Isiolo, a dispute erupted when a group of young people verbally attacked him during a rally.
The intensity rose, forcing President Ruto and his friends to struggle to convey their message amidst loud yells of “uongo” (lying) from the audience.
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Responding to the interruption, President Ruto claimed that drug dealers planned the pandemonium by sending adolescents to disrupt the conference.
He issued a warning, reiterating that the government opposes such operations.
“I am aware that drug dealers have sent the youth to come and cause a disturbance at this meeting,” Ruto asserted.
“Be warned, young people—you cannot threaten the government. A foreigner cannot come and turn Isiolo into a drug den. It won’t happen.”
FREEDOM: Court Frees 48 Youths Arrested In Isiolo Over ‘Drug Peddling’
