Opposition leaders demand the release of 18 protesters arrested by Police

Mombasa, Wednesday, July 12, 2023

KNA by Sadik Hassan

Mombasa Azimio La Umoja sympathizers have vowed to pitch tents at the Central Police Station until 18 people who were arrested Wednesday morning during the anti-government demonstration are released.

The leaders alleged that some of the arrested people are innocent as they were not part of the demonstration.

“We are here because our fellow Kenyans from Mombasa County were arrested without any wrongdoing because we notified the police on our demo,” said Likoni MP Mishi Mboko at the Central Police Station, she added that the right to picket is guaranteed in the constitution.

Mishi said Kenyans are angry because of the 16 percent VAT on fuel, which is being implemented, “even after the court issued a conservatory order until the Okiya Omtatah’s case is heard and determined,”.

Mishi said Kenyans have been pushed to the wall by the way the country is being governed.

“If the government is in a financial crunch, where does it get money to purchase tear gas and to mobilize police officers? she posed, “People should be allowed to demonstrate to air out their grievances,” said Mishi.

Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki blamed the police for disrupting their peaceful demonstration which was organized to protest the high cost of living.

“This is not the first time for the police to misuse their power, on the 7th of July we had a peaceful demo which the police also disrupted. We vowed not to relent because we must speak. The prices of food items has skyrocketed, the cost of living has increased, and the citizens can no longer sustain themselves,” said Faki.

Faki said some of the arrested had nothing to do with the demonstration and were busy with their day-to-day activities.

“18 people are incarcerated, we have spoken with the police we have told them they are innocent. They have accepted to release them and we will ensure they are released, if they fail to release them, we will stay here until they are released,” said senator Faki.

He added that the police are also affected by the high cost of living and the demonstrations are for a “better Kenya”.

Courtesy ; K. N. A