Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sherrif Nassir has called for the immediate release of politicians allied to the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition who were arrested during the opposition protests in Nairobi on Monday, March 20, 2023.
In a statement, the county boss accused the police of interfering with the rights of Kenyans to peacefully demonstrate.
Among the MPs arrested are Senate Minority Leader Stewart Mwadzayo (Senator, Kilifi), his National Assembly counterpart Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Amina Mnyazi (Malindi) and Ken Chonga (Kilifi South).
"The rule of law must be upheld and every citizen, no matter their stature, must be protected by the very same security agencies as they exercise their rights. The Police action that we have witnessed today is a gross violation of the Bill of Rights and an unwarranted assault on civil liberties. Kenya is a democratic country and our Constitution is the supreme law that binds all persons and all State organs at both levels of government,
"I, therefore, call for the immediate release of our leaders and other Kenyans arrested during today’s peaceful protests and for the Kenyan Kwanza Administration to respect the rights of Kenyans to express their displeasure and frustration on the state of the economy," he added.
The governor expressed disappointment in the manner in which the police handled citizens and opposition leader Raila Odinga during the protests despite prior notice of the planned demonstrations.
"I take this opportunity to strongly condemn the interference by State Security Agencies in the just exercise of this right of Kenyans to peacefully protest. It is a matter of public information that Azimio La Umoja provided prior notice to the police 3 days in advance of the planned peaceful demonstrations," he stated.
"It is therefore a travesty of justice to see the violence and active sabotage by State Security Agencies out to suppress Kenyan’s rights to assemble, demonstrate and picket."
The county boss additionally asked security enforcers to deliver on their mandate by serving and protecting Kenyans instead of attempting to intimidate them using teargas and water cannons.
Monday's demonstrations were aimed at pressuring the government to among other issues, lower the cost of living. The protests were, however, marred by chaos as police and Azimio supporters engaged in running battles in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).
