Nyando MP Fred Outa arrested for alleged incitement of students to protest principal's removal

Nyando MP Fred Outa (centre) is restrained by his handlers from confronting a KNUT official after the indefinite closure of Ahero on October 11, 2016. The legislature was later arrested over student's riot at Ahero Girls that made he institution be closed indefinitely. (PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/ STANDARD)

Nyando MP Fred Outa has been arrested in connection with student riots at a local secondary school.

Mr Outa was accused of inciting the students of Ahero Girls Secondary School to violence after their principal, Sarah Odipo, was interdicted.

The MP was taken to court in Kisumu where a magistrate denied him bail.

The prosecution had asked court to order the MP's detention for three days as they completed investigations.

The police are investigating accusations of incitement, malicious damage to property and causing a disturbance.

Chief Magistrate Julius Ng'ang'a directed the MP's detention until this morning, when he will make a ruling on the prosecution's request.

The school was closed indefinitely after a confrontation between students and anti-riot police degenerated into destruction of school property.

"We have advised the area education officers to close the school as we do not want to risk students' lives. The principal has been interdicted and that is a communication from the headquarters, which we do not have powers to challenge," said County Teachers Service Commission Director Joyce Kikuvi.

The principal was interdicted after she refused to take a transfer.