The High Court in Narok has granted bond to murder suspect Sylivester Kitita Esho, also known as Ken Esho, after finding that the prosecution had failed to demonstrate compelling reasons to justify his continued detention pending trial.
In a ruling delivered on June 26, 2026, Justice Charles Kariuki ordered that Esho be released on a bond of Ksh500,000 with one surety of a similar amount, subject to strict conditions.
The prosecution had opposed the bond application, arguing that the accused had allegedly issued threats to witnesses through his relatives. However, the court found that the allegations were unsupported, noting that no affidavits from the alleged relatives or evidence of investigations into the claims had been presented.
The court also considered the accused’s medical condition after questions were raised over documents initially produced in support of his application. A letter purportedly issued by Molo Sub-County Hospital was disputed after a hospital official denied its authenticity. The court subsequently directed that Esho be examined at Narok Referral Hospital, whose consultant confirmed that he requires continuous medical treatment and a special diet.
Justice Kariuki observed that prison authorities had not indicated whether they were capable of providing the recommended medical care and dietary requirements while the accused remained in custody.
In granting bond, the judge emphasized that under Article 49 of the Constitution, the burden lies with the prosecution to establish compelling reasons for denying bail or bond. The court held that the prosecution had not met that threshold in the present case.
As part of the bond terms, Esho was directed not to contact any prosecution witness, either directly or indirectly, and to report to the DCI Narok North Office during the first week of every month beginning July 3, 2026, once released.
