John Ariko, a member of Kenya's parliament, is free for now. He was in jail over the weekend, but a court let him out on Monday.
Mr. Ariko and eight others are accused of a crime. Police say they attacked the son of a governor. The governor is Jeremiah Lomurukai of Turkana County.
Officers arrested Mr. Ariko last Thursday in Eldoret. He was briefly released from jail, and then he went to court on Friday.
At first, the judge said the suspects had to stay in jail until Monday when the judge would decide about bail.
On Monday, the judge let them go for now. But they each had to pay 150,000 shillings. That is about 1,200 U.S. dollars. Or they could pay another way. They could have someone else pay 300,000 shillings for them.
The suspects have to return to court on January 20. Lawyer Otiende Omollo, an MP, came to help them.
Mr. Omollo asked why the case was moved. It started in Turkana and then went to Eldoret. He said the charges were political.
Mr. Ariko is accused of two crimes. Police say he tried to stop them from doing their job. They say he did this with other people.
The other suspects are accused of various crimes. Some are said to have stolen things, and others are accused of forgery.
Most are also charged with attacking the governor's son. Police say this happened on April 29 at a home in Turkana.
The suspects all say they are not guilty. Lawyers argued over whether they should get bail. Some said the suspects might cause trouble if they were free.
The government wanted the case moved for safety reasons. A lawyer for the victims said some suspects used social media to scare people.
But for now, Mr. Ariko and the others are out of jail. They will have to answer the charges in court next month.
Mr. Ariko and eight others are accused of a crime. Police say they attacked the son of a governor. The governor is Jeremiah Lomurukai of Turkana County.
Officers arrested Mr. Ariko last Thursday in Eldoret. He was briefly released from jail, and then he went to court on Friday.
At first, the judge said the suspects had to stay in jail until Monday when the judge would decide about bail.
On Monday, the judge let them go for now. But they each had to pay 150,000 shillings. That is about 1,200 U.S. dollars. Or they could pay another way. They could have someone else pay 300,000 shillings for them.
The suspects have to return to court on January 20. Lawyer Otiende Omollo, an MP, came to help them.
Mr. Omollo asked why the case was moved. It started in Turkana and then went to Eldoret. He said the charges were political.
Mr. Ariko is accused of two crimes. Police say he tried to stop them from doing their job. They say he did this with other people.
The other suspects are accused of various crimes. Some are said to have stolen things, and others are accused of forgery.
Most are also charged with attacking the governor's son. Police say this happened on April 29 at a home in Turkana.
The suspects all say they are not guilty. Lawyers argued over whether they should get bail. Some said the suspects might cause trouble if they were free.
The government wanted the case moved for safety reasons. A lawyer for the victims said some suspects used social media to scare people.
But for now, Mr. Ariko and the others are out of jail. They will have to answer the charges in court next month.
