Rights activists charged with unlawful assembly
Muslims for Human Rights Executive Director Khalifa Khelef has faulted police for disrupting a demonstration organised by human rights activists in Mombasa Thursday. Eight activists were arrested and charged at a Momabsa court. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- A vehicle belonging to one of the activists was also impounded.
- The activists appeared before Senior Principal Registrate Richard Odenyo and were released on a Sh15,000 cash bail each.
- Police, in a written letter on Tuesday, declined to allow them to assemble.
Eight human rights activists were Thursday charged in a Mombasa court with taking part in an unlawful assembly.
Police had earlier arrested them during a demonstration to protest at what they termed as failure by the State to provide security in the country.
A vehicle belonging to one of the activists was also impounded.
Those arrested include head of Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) Mombasa office, Hassan Abdille, Mohammed Ruwange, a KNCHR officer, and Shungwaya Welfare Association vice-chairman Sheikh Mohammed Mbwana.
Others arrested during the 10am protest were Caroline Kioko and Elizabeth Omwenga, both of Transparency International, Teresia Saru of Coast Women in Development, Juma Rashid and a driver, Elijah Mwavita.
The activists appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Odenyo and were released on a Sh15,000 cash bail each.
JAMMED POLICE STATION
Members of Civil Society groups earlier jammed Mombasa’s Central Police Station demanding the release of their colleagues but the Officer Commanding Station is said to have insisted on taking the “culprits” to court.
The human rights groups had last week issued a letter to the County Commissioner Nelson Marwa, the County Government and the police notifying them of their intention to picket outside Uhuru Na Kazi building.
The protestors expected to address the County Commissioner at his office which is in the building.
However, the police, in a written letter on Tuesday, declined to allow them to assemble.
“Please note that your letter does not show any agenda of picketing and also you did not qualify the reason for not giving a time frame.
You must be aware that Uhuru Na Kazi is a vital installation and a public office where members of the public go for service. Your request has therefore not been considered,” the letter noted.
The rights groups said the security personnel maintained that the demo was unlawful and that they should not picket.
FAULTED POLICE
Speaking to the Daily Nation at the police station, Muslims for Human Rights Executive Director Khalifa Khelef faulted the police for disrupting the march and using force to cause harm to the activists.
“Our constitutional right has been violated by the police, Article 37 gives every person the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions to public authorities. This we did but the police have dispersed and arrested some of us,” he said.
Mr Khelef insisted that the groups’ course was a genuine one but the police dispersed them even before the march could take off.
“We had intended to see Commissioner Marwa so that we can sit down and discuss issues affecting the region,” Mr Khelef explained.
LAWYER'S PLEA
The activists' lawyer Abubakar Yusuf, pleaded with the court to release his clients on bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Some of the accused sustained serious injuries during the fray as they were dispersed by anti-riot police. The magistrate allowed them to receive medical attention.
During the proceedings, the advocate informed the court that some of his clients were state officers and if detained bail this would jeopardise their employment.
He therefore sought their release on bail and promised that they would attend court sessions.
The prosecution did not have any objection on the eight being released on bail.
The case will be heard on July 23.
