A youth suspected to have been behind the grenade attack on police that left three officers dead during late last month riots failed to plead to murder charges before a Mombasa court.

Mwajivuno Mwasambo was brought before Mombasa's Lady Justice Maureen Odero to take his plea but the prosecutor's team failed to provide a doctor's psychiatrist report on him to indicate whether he was fit to stand trial.

Lawyer Fredrick Okanga, representing the youth, told the court the state counsel had not produced a psychiatric report from the government doctor therefore he could not plead to the charges. Mwasambo is suspected of hurling a grenade inside a police lorry and shooting at officers inside the lorry that was responding to threats by rioters to burn down a PCEA church in Kisauni.

The police officers including prison warders were in a lorry along Mwembe Tayari area of Mombasa when they were attacked resulting in the death of three officers and fifteen injured. Justice Odero directed the accused, who had been held up at Central Police station, to be remanded at Shimo la Tewa prison pending the doctor's report.

Violent protesters took to the street for the three days following the shooting of controversial Muslim teacher Aboud Rogo on 27 August along Mombasa-Malindi highway. A close ally of Rogo, Abubakar Shariff alias Makaburi, suspected to have been the mastermind of the riots was denied bail by the court last week after the government counsel argued he would lead more demonstrations.

Makaburi was charged with three charges of incitement before senior resident magistrate Elvis Michieka. Makaburi is alleged to have said "nyinyi polisi na haswa wale mko na uniform tutaonana na nyinyi makafiri,(We will deal with you police officers in uniforms. Kaffirs)" and "makanisa yote yachomwe,(burn all the charges)"

He is said to have uttered the inflammatory statements outside the Masjid Musa Mosque where youths had gathered to bury the slain teacher, Rogo. 35 youths also arrested by police for taking part in the demonstrations were released on a Sh50,000 surety bond pending the hearing of their case in October 22 this year. Justice Odero directed Mwasambo to appear before her court on 20 September.