Twelve police officers from the disbanded Special Services Unit of the DCI were Thursday released on a personal bond of Sh500,000 each.
Kahawa Law Court Chief Magistrate Diana Mochache released the officers after the investigating officers failed to produce a report on the DNA tests from the suspects.
The officers who have been in custody for more than 30 days, are suspected to be behind the mysterious disappearance of two Indian nationals Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan and Mohamed Zaid and their taxi driver Nicodemus Mwania whose bodies were found in the Aberdare Mountain since July 23, 2022.
Eight of them were detained for 21 days pending investigations on November 10 while four others were arrested on Wednesday.
The prosecution had sought more time to get DNA samples from the accused which they had not obtained.
The defence lawyer Danstan Omari however, opposed saying the police had more than enough time to get the suspects to conduct the DNA test.
He argued that since there was no report, the court should release the officers on bond.
In her ruling, the magistrate released each of them on a personal bond of Sh 500,000.
She directed the parties to agree on a day they will avail themselves for DNA testing at the government chemist.
The prosecution had sought to have them taken to a government chemist instead of a national forensic laboratory for DNA testing as ordered by the judge during their detention.
The suspects are Joseph Mwenda Mbaya, David Chepcheng Kipsoi, Stephen Luseno Matunda, Paul Njogu Muriithi, Simon Muhuga Gikonyo, Peter Muthee Gachiku, Francis Muendo Ndonye, John Mwangi Kamau and Joseph Kamau Mbugua.
Francis Muendo Ndonye was already out on an Sh500,000 personal bond.
There was a standoff at the court on Wednesday when investigators from the Internal Affairs Unit sought to get samples from the officers who were being held at the Capitol Hill, KIlimani and Kileleshwa police stations.
The officers declined to have their samples taken citing the order by Mochache since they were to be taken to the government chemist and not DCI headquarters.
Four more officers from the unit who were arrested on Wednesday were arraigned in court on Thursday and they were released on the same Sh500,000 personal bond.
The court ordered them to adhere to the same orders issued to their colleagues.
Mochache also ordered the four not to interfere with witnesses or intimidate them saying that their bond terms would be cancelled and they will be detained for 42 days.
The case will be mentioned on January 16, 2023, to confirm whether the parties will have agreed on a date for DNA testing.
The officers said no investigations had commenced to establish who abducted the two Indians and a Kenyan whose bodies were found at Aberdare Mountain.
Omari said there was an attempt to have them taken to the government chemist for a DNA test contrary to an order issued by the chief magistrate court.
