17 suspects accused of attacking and killing a senior police officer and seriously injuring another at Oyude market, in Rarieda will have to wait till April 30, in order to take pleas..

The suspects, who were arrested on March 13, have been in custody and will continue being guests at Siaya GK prison till end month.

Siaya High court judge Daniel Ogembo said they will take plea after mental assessment that will be conducted by the prosecution.

The defense, through their advocate Fredrick Ooro, had requested to proceed and take plea without the mental assessment which the court declined.

One of the reasons given for the delay in conducting the mental assessment is the nationwide strike by the doctors.

Unlike the magistrate court where they appeared last week, Justice Ogembo gave them a bond of Sh200,000 and similar surety.

They are supposed to report to Aram Police station daily till April 30 when they shall appear before the judge.

The 17 accused persons linked to the death of the senior police officer are; Carren Atieno, John Aketch, Bonface Ochieng, Lennox Adede, Kevin Ouma and Wycliffe Odhiambo Ndeda.

Others are Jared Omondi, Pascal Odhiambo, Joseph Ochieng, Ronny Odhiambo, Evans Odiwuor, Comic Ouma, Joseph Tabu, Moses Odhiambo, Nelson Ochieng, Samuel Otieno and Austin Onywera.

The deceased inspector Simon Mwangi Kariuki and another officer were on an operation targeting the illicit liquor within Oyude shopping center.

It was during that operation that the suspects allegedly attacked them after arresting a suspected illicit brew dealer; they were stoned leaving Mr Mwangi dead and the other officer seriously injured.

The suspected dealer is reported to have raised alarm when the officers attempted to arrest her, thus attracting a mob that descended on the duo.

The deceased officer, as a way of scaring off the mob that was surging and posing danger, fired into the air.

“The inspector is said to have fired five shots in the air to scare off the attackers, but to no avail. He succumbed to his injuries,” read the police incident report.

In the process, the ceska pistol belonging to Mr Mwangi was stolen by the attackers; it was later recovered by the officers who conducted an operation leading to the arrest of the suspects.