Raila Chopper Attack: Court Frees 15 Out Of 17 Suspects Over ‘Lack Of Evidence’

Fifteen out of the 17 suspects who were arrested over an attack on ODM leader Raila Odinga’s chopper in Kabenes village, Uasin Gishu County have been released by an Eldoret court.

Two of the remaining suspects will however remain in custody pending prosecution over the incident that occurred after the burial of the late businessman Jackson Kibor on April 1st.

The suspects were presented before Eldoret Senior Resident Magistrate Emily Kigen on Wednesday where the prosecution submitted that there was a lack of sufficient evidence to implicate 15 of the accused persons in the attack.

The court had allowed the prosecution to detain the suspects pending the conclusion of investigations into the incident where Odinga’s chopper was pelted with stones by rowdy youth, leaving the air shield damaged.

Odinga and a section of leaders allied to the Azimio la Umoja coalition were in the area to attend Mzee Kibor’s burial.

Earlier the National Police Service had indicated that the suspects who are believed to have been mobilized to orchestrate the attack were found in possession of cash money in Ksh.50 denominations.

The suspects who have been in custody for the last two weeks were expected to face charges of attempted murder, incitement to violence, malicious damage to property, and disturbance of the peace.