Eight students were among 30 youth who were arraigned before a Mombasa Court to answer to charges of robbery with violence.
The eight, aged between 17 and 18, are accused of allegedly being members of criminal gangs that have been robbing and harassing Mombasa residents.
The accused persons were arrested after being linked to gang attacks at Lake View, Nyali in Mombasa County two weeks ago.
The 30 suspects who are facing 10 counts of robbery with violence are accused of committing the crimes on diverse dates between August 5 and 18, 2019.
The juveniles who filed an application to be released on bail told the court that they are minors and still students from different secondary schools in Mombasa.
The prosecution, however, opposed their release on bail saying the police still need more time to complete their investigations.
Mombasa Senior Resident Magistrate Edgar Kagoni ordered for the 30 suspects to be remanded at Shimo La Tewa Prison for two weeks.
Magistrate Kagoni said he will rule on the bail application once it has been established who among the accused persons are students.
“Because I don’t know if you are lying to me, all of you will be remanded at Shimo La Tewa until September 4, 2019. I know schools are opening on September 2, 2019, but you will be inside until September 4,” said Magistrate Kagoni as quoted by the Standard.