Hospitalized - Narrative from a Kenyan seeking change

Read Fwamba FC Fwamba's first hand account about the day after being arrested and beaten for demonstrating on behalf of ten million starving Kenyans. (Click on image below)

25 Bunge la Mwananchi members arbitrarily arrested and held

From George Nyongesa (Bunge La Mwananchi)

Dear Kenyans and friends of Kenya,

At 9 am this morning (Sunday, 22^nd February 2009), Gacheke Gachihi - a Bunge la Mwananchi network leader in Huruma - along with 20 other youth, were arbitrarily arrested while they were having tea in a food kiosk known as “Kwa Rasta” in Nairobi’s Kiamaiko area (famous for its goat market). In addition to these, the kiosk’s owner, Joel Kimani and several more people who were outside the kiosk were likewise arrested and the whole group was taken off to a field in Mathare North. 3 women, including one identified as Mary Wanja, whose family members were amongst those arrested, followed the group and were also taken into custody by the police.

I received a phone call from another Bunge la Mwananchi member alerting me to this news at around 10 am and we have spent the whole morning trying to trace the people arrested. Visits to the Huruma police post, Kasarani police station, area central police station and Buruburu police station proved futile as the group had not been taken to any of these police stations. Finally, the group arrived at Muthaiga police station at around 1.45 pm where they are now in the process of being booked.

Although we are being denied the chance to speak with them, it is apparent that they have not been told the reason for their arrest. It appears that when the 3 concerned women had traced the group to the field and were arrested, the police then bundled them all into a police lorry that drove off and parked by the side of the road in an unknown area instead of driving to any police station. They were held in the lorry until they were brought to the Muthaiga police station. We have not been able to establish how they have been treated by the police since they were arrested, but even the delay in booking them after arrest is cause for foreboding.

At this time when the UN is investigating extra judicial killings in Kenya, it is important to point out that today’s arrests bear very similar trademarks to arrests that have previously resulted in unexplained citizens’ disappearances and deaths. Indeed, the area from which the group was picked up is an area of Nairobi in which young people are routinely picked up by police, their activities criminalised and this is followed by their sudden disappearances from police custody only to show up dead in unexplained circumstances.

This is an appeal for civic vigilance and solidarity with those arrested. We wish to highlight this as one of many evidentiary incidents of the constant threat that Bunge la Mwananchi members are subjected to by oppressive government machinery – the police. We call upon you for your support in any of the following areas:

1. Please spread the word of this latest police harassment.

2. We invite you to write to or call anyone who you think should know and can do something about this.

3. Write to the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Internal Security and the Commissioner of Police to demand a reason for this obvious infringement of people’s constitutional human rights by the police.Click HERE for email addresses and phone nos.

4. Lobby for the immediate release of all those arrested.

5. Even as we continue to follow up, we anticipate that we will require legal assistance and will be grateful for anyone with legal expertise to immediately join us at the Muthaiga police station.

6. We may also require financial support in bailing out those arrested.

Bunge la Mwananchi wishes to reiterate that we mean business by organising and mobilising Kenyans to free themselves from failed leadership. We refuse to and will not be intimidated by these ominous arrests and will not be deterred by police harassment.

This is how we treat our mothers in Kenya (Part 2)

She was crying for them:

And the policeman said...

I'm here to keep the peace...

Action Alert re Arrest of Philo Ikonya, Fwamba Crispus, Patrick Kamotho

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

PLEASE CIRCULATE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE

(1) Send a text message NOW, to Kenya's President, Prime Minister, and Attorney General. Use the one below, or craft your own. Phone nos and Email ads available HERE

Mr. Kibaki / Mr. Odinga - we hold u accountable 4 police violence and illegal arrests against Philo Ikonya n other civil society activists. Release them NOW and fire Police Commissioner Ali.

Other Suggested Message:

Mr Kibaki / Mr. Odinga, I urge you to act immediately to release Philo Ikonya, Fwamba Chrispus, and Patrick Kamotho from illegal police custody. Police Commissioner Ali must be fired for presiding over escalating police violations of civil and human rights in Kenya.

To President Mwai Kibaki: president (at) statehousekenya (dot) go (dot) ke

To Prime Minister Raila Odinga: railaodinga (at) yahoo (dot) com

Signed: Name, Organization / Affiliation (if any), City, Country

3) If you are a Kenyan repeat steps 1) and 2) with your own MP and other parliamentarians. Contact details for Kenyan MPs here.

4) If you live outside Kenya, repeat steps 1) and 2), directing the texts and emails to the Kenyan Ambassador or High Commissioner in your country. Contact details on this link:

5) If you are a foreign national living in Kenya, repeat steps 1) and 2) with the Ambassador or High Commissioner of your country in Kenya. Contact details on this link

6) Copy to the Feedback Form on the site of the Kenyan Police Force HERE

7) Copy to Kofi Annan, in his capacity as the head of the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process, through his spokesman: Nasser Ega-Musa: Nasser (dot)Ega-Musa(at) unon (dot) org

Arrested and beaten for asking for food...

From Mars Group Kenya

Philo Ikonya, Fwamba FC Fwamba, and Patrick Kamotho have been beaten and arrested by Police while demonstrating against lack of Unga, and corruption in Government at Parliament Buildings. Philo Ikonya and Fwamba FC Fwamba arecurrently being held at Central Police Station. The whereabouts of Patrick Kamotho are still Unknown.

On Friday, 3 other colleagues were arrested while sharing information on Corruption with other Kenyans. Two were released and Rosemary Otieno was charged with a bogus charge at the City court.

The Grand Coalition Government has allowed the Kenya Police to continue harassing Kenyans who exercise their Fundamental Rights as guaranteed under the Constitution Of Kenya. Agenda 1 of the National Accord was to restore the Fundamental Rights of all Kenyans with immediate effect. Can Kenyans continue to pay for this Government?

The time to admit failure by this Government to deliver the National Accord is now. We demand the immediate, unconditional release of our colleagues, and call for the Commissioner of Police, Major General Hussein Ali to resign with immediate effect on the basis that his force is unable to deliver on Fundamental Human Rights for Kenyans.

In the name of...tshirts...and teargas...

Our struggle with stupidity goes on...

Six more journalists arrested over law

Click on image for full story

Kenya's most notorious get VIP seats on Jamhuri Day

How much worse does it get? Nicholas Biwott...Kamlesh Pattni?? Front seats next to the President stone faced and proud...THIS IS KENYA.

Picture is front page of the East African
Thanks Mambo Africa!

Updates on a government scared of tshirts...

Via Bunge La Mwananchi:

Police bar civil society and media from visiting Frederick Odhiambo:

By way of update - when a number of Bunge la Mwananchi members, accompanied by the press, attempted to visit Frederick Odhiambo earlier this morning at the Nairobi Women's Hospital, we were barred from seeing him by the police who are guarding him. As I write, we have still not been able to see Odhiambo. This is an apt example of the rampant government heavy handedness that Kenyans have had enough of.

The policemen guarding him have informed us that they are under strict instructions not to allow anyone, especially the press, to visit him. We have further been told that we must have permission from "the police officer", although they will not clearly say who this police officer is.

We are still making attempts to get in and see him and once we are successful, I will update you on how he is faring.

Thank you all for your continued support as Kenyans continue to join in solidarity in fighting against high food and basic commodity prices, high fuel prices, the MPs resistance to pay tax and the general culture of impunity of the political elite, including attempting to muzzle the freedom of information through the Media Bill.

Latest update: Mwalimu and Mrs Mati released from Langata police station:

Thanks to people power, Mwalimu Mati and his wife have just been released from the Langata police station. They have been released pending investigations since the police did not have adequate evidence to charge them with incitement. Thank you for everyone who lobbied for and kept vigil until their release.

In the meantime, we have still not been able to visit Frederick Odhiambo who is under tight secuity at the Nairobi Women's Hospital where he was admitted yesterday following police brutality inflicted upon him at the time of his arrest. I urge you to continue lobbying with Bunge la Mwananchi for access to and subsequently the immediate release of Mr Odhiambo from police custody.

Kenyans have been empowered to recognise their rights and freedoms of conscience, thought and information. We shall not be cowered by police heavy handedness and brutality and will not let up until we have the Kenya that Kenyans want. Let us remain bold to condemn any segregation of Kenyans by the political elite. Let us remain resolute to fight impunity. Let us keep up the people power that we have had all along and must exercise for ours and our children's welfare.

In solidarity,

Bunge la Mwananchi

URGENT: appeal for release of Mwalimu Mati and others

From members of Kenya for Peace, Truth and Justice:

As you know, many were detained yesterday following attempts to peacefully protest during Jamhouri Day celebrations.

Most of those detained have since been released.

However:

1. Mwalimu Mati of the Media Analysis and Research Services (MARS) Group and his wife Jane remain in custody at Langata Police Station Nairobi...they have not yet been charged (at which point they could apply for bail) more than 24 hours after their detention...we are deeply concerned that the intent is to hold them for no apparent purpose up to the maximum of 48 hours.

2. Fred Odhiambo of Bunge la Wananchi was just brought to Langata Police Station from Nyayo Stadium, where he'd been detained overnight. He has been badly beaten and has just been moved to Nairobi Women's Hospital for treatment, still in detention.

3. Four colleagues in Garissa remain in detention for simply trying to present the Provincial Commissioner with a memorandum.

Please:

1. Use any influence you have in government to demand all's unconditional release...the rights to the freedoms of assembly and expression have been violated by their continued detention;
2. Focus attention on the Commissioner of Police, where the directive for their contined detention seems to be coming from;
3. Focus attention on the President and Prime Minister for having utterly failed to demonstrate enlightened leadership during yesterday's events;
4. Ensure this sad story gets to the media, here and elsewhere as well as to any and all diplomatic contacts we have.

Click HERE to read the full statement from the Partnership for Change

Arrested for wearing a tshirt!

I PLEDGE TO WEAR THIS TSHIRT EVERY DAY UNTIL THE MPS ADMIT THEY HAVE RAPED OUR COUNTRY - SUKUMA KENYA

Breaking news from Bunge La Mwananchi: Caroline Mutoko, Mwalimu Mati, 60 others arrested at Nyayo Stadium

Caroline Mutoko of Kiss FM and Mwalimu Mati of Mars Group Kenya have this morning been arrested at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi. The two have been taken to the Langata police station. 60 other Kenyans are also being bundled into waiting police vehicles and it appears that it is planned to distribute those arrested in various police stations across the city. The 62 are part of a larger group of Kenyans that had gone to attend the national event at the Nyayo National Stadium as we mark Jamhuri Day today and use the forum to address our leaders, making the Kenyan citizen’s grievances heard. They were all wearing black T Shirts with the message “No Tax for MPs, No Tax for Us” which is part of the campaign being run in conjunction with Kenyans who care and university students to protest against MPs refusal to pay tax. Picture taken by Mentalacrobatics. More pics available HERE The black T Shirt campaign forms part of a larger campaign where Kenyans have over the past few days held demonstrations, rallies, boycotts as they are protesting against the ongoing food crisis, the escalating prices of basic commodities, the high price of fuel and the MPs culture of impunity. The urgent help required is: legal representation, cash bail for each person arrested, tracing and visiting all the arrested at the various police stations where they have been taken, lobbying for their immediate release, and any other help you are able to render. Let us all join together to keep up the pressure against the culture of impunity in Kenya and protect our hard earned rights that were so valiantly fought for by our independence heroes. Together in solidarity, Bunge la Mwananchi

Update on arrests in Jeevanjee Gardens

It turns out that the orders for the arrests of Bunge La Mwananchi members and other innocent people in Jeevanjee gardens on 9th September (see below for detail) came from "higher up in the ranks"

The good news is that they are all out. The usual news is that the authorities know they can keep intimidating people and sooner or later they will break their backs and we will all crawl back into our holes and just blog about it...

Full story HERE

Police arrest 20 Bunge la Mwananchi members today!

The police once again in complete defiance of our Freedom of Assembly Rights have arrested members of Bunge La Wananchi in the hope of intimidating them. This is the continuation of the attacks on civil society.

On 9th September 2008, at around 1.20 pm 4 armed police with riot gear believed to be from from Central Police Station came to Jeevanjee Gardens. Upon their arrival 3 plainclothes policemen who had been seated undetected under a tree as part of the people in Jeevanjee Gardens, joined them and ordered people around to pair up and walk with them to Central Police Station.

19 innocent Kenyans have been detained. We are appealing to people who value freedom to sign this petition demanding the immediate release of our fellow Kenyans and a public apology and end to intimidation by the government authorities.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION AND FORWARD TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

You can also send a direct letter of protest to the following:

- Prime Minister Raila Odinga - railaodinga@yahoo.com

- The Police Commissioner: commissioner@police.go.ke

- Police Spokesman: spokesman@police.go.ke

- Complaints: complaints@police.go.ke

- Customer Care Desk: customercare@police.go.ke