At least 75 human rights activists, who were arrested during Friday's Saba Saba protests in Nairobi, have been released.
According to outspoken activist Boniface Mwangi, the protesters, who were detained at Central Police Station, were released on a free bond Sunday morning.
"All the young activists arrested on Friday in Nairobi at the #SabaSabaMarchForOurLives protests have been released. They hadn’t committed a crime. They were simply carrying placards. The police have given them free bond. Thank you to everyone who demanded for their release," Mwangi said in a tweet.
All the young activists arrested on Friday in Nairobi at the #SabaSabaMarchForOurLives protests have been released. They hadn’t committed a crime. They were simply carrying placards. The police have given them free bond. Thank you to everyone who demanded for their release. pic.twitter.com/NS3ABJFTmZ— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) July 9, 2023
The activists were arrested while protesting against the high cost of living in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD). The demonstrations coincided with similar protests called by the Azimio la Umoja- One Kenya coalition.
The release of the activists comes a day after police lobbed teargas at individuals from various lobby groups who camped at the Central Police Station to demand release of the protesters.
Led by former Chief Justice Willie Mutunga, the activists drawn from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Haki Kenya, and Kenya Bora Tutakayo, accused the police of effecting unlawful arrests against peaceful protesters.
"The right to liberty and security of the person is a fundamental right protected by the constitution…Arbitrary arrests violate these principles and must be addressed," KHRC said in a statement.
The activists wanted the protesters freed unconditionally but their attempts bore no fruits.
"We are extremely disappointed by this action by the police, which comes 60 years after independence. Coming 30 years after multi-party politics. It comes 13 years after the adoption of the new constitution," KHRC's Davis Malombe said.
They told the press that the police wanted to charge the demonstrators with unlawful assembly, assault and destruction of property.
They indicated that as of Saturday, only 26 of the 75 had been processed awaiting arraignment on Monday.
