— On Mon, 12/29/08, George Nyongesa wrote:

From: George Nyongesa
Subject: Breaking news – 20 arrested for visiting Jeevanjee Gardens
Date: Monday, December 29, 2008, 1:49 PM

Dear Kenyan and friends of Kenya,

In an operation led by area DCIO, a group of twenty people have a short moment ago been arrested from Jeevanjee Gardens allegedly for being Bunge la Mwananchi members. They have all been taken to the Central Police Station, where it is not yet clear what they will be charged with.

Ever since Jamhuri Day, there has been a contingent of armed policemen stationed in a lorry perpetually parked right in the heart of Jeevanjee Gardens. These policemen, both in uniform and under cover, have had the park and its occupants under strict surveillance, arresting anyone sitting in groups of two or more and suspected of being members of Bunge la Mwananchi.

This has been the case ever since the Jamhuri Day events that were a climax of growing Wananchi dissatisfaction over the continued rise in the cost of life, including unaffordable food necessities such as Unga and other highly priced basic commodities, the unchecked rise of transport costs due to escalating unregulated fuel prices coupled with the political elites’ blatant culture of impunity including refusing to pay taxes and seeking to introduce the Media Bill to regulate information made available to the public.

This is the festive season and Jeevanjee Gardens is a public park that is often used by the public for recreational purposes. It is a blatant violation of the constitutional freedoms of assembly and conscience for these arbitrary arrests to be perpetrated unabated against the Kenyan public.

In addition, Bunge la Mwananchi is a grassroot social movement formed by grassroot Kenyans that provides a platform for all Kenyans to resist oppression, fight for social justice and demand for responsive and accountable leadership at all levels in Kenya. Bunge la Mwananchi is not involved in any criminal activities and if the police or whomever’s orders they are acting under has any facts to the contrary, these should be made public. We refuse to be intimidated by scare tactics of the government’s oppressive machinery and will continue to provide Kenyans with a forum through which to set the agenda for their leaders.

This email is copied to the President and the Prime Minister’s offices. We demand that the Minister for Internal Security, the Police Commissioner and the two principals’ offices issue a statement to the public elaborating the reasons for the arbitrary arrests and for the continued violation of freedoms and rights guaranteed to Kenyans under the Constitution by which they too are governed and are charged to protect.

Bunge la Mwananchi invites you to keep vigilant with us to protect all Kenyans’ rights and freedoms.

George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
www.bulamwa.co.ke
+254 720 451 235

Bunge la Mwananchi is a social movement and a member of the Kenya National Civil Society Congress

– – – – – – – – – – –

Dear Kenyans and friends of Kenya,

Further to my previous email, please note the following are those whose names I have so far been able to confirm as having been booked at the Central Police Station, Nairobi, for holding an illegal assembly:

Keli Musyoka
Gitau Njenga
Paul Macharia
Paul Wanyama
Japheth Mukoyana
Erastus Karanja
David Ndichu
Salim Mbua
John Abok
Bradley Ouna

The above are among the twenty Bunge la Mwananchi members arrested earlier this afternoon from Jeevanjee Gardens and who are being held at Central Police Station as I write.

This is an urgent appeal to Bunge la Mwananchi supporters for help in any of the following ways:

ü spot-lighting these arbitrary arrests and protesting against them;

ü legal representation for those who are currently in custody. Can any lawyer reading this who is able to join us at Central Police Station as soon as possible please do so and contact me on my number below;

ü we anticipate that we will also require to raise cash bail to secure each of the 20’s release from police custody;

ü lobbying for their immediate release; and

ü any other help you are able to render.

Your support in any way that you can is highly appreciated.

Bunge la Mwananchi members have as other Kenyans been vocal over the past year in protesting against issues such as the continued rise in the cost of life, including unaffordable food necessities such as Unga and other highly priced basic commodities, the unchecked rise of transport costs due to escalating unregulated fuel prices coupled with the political elites’ blatant culture of impunity including refusing to pay taxes and seeking to introduce the Media Bill to regulate information made available to the public.

Although the police have resorted to camping at, and perpetrating arbitrary arrests of people found at Jeevanjee Gardens, we refuse to be cowered by these intimidation tactics and Bunge la Mwananchi remains committed to providing a forum from which Kenyans can set the agenda for their leaders by discussing and adopting resolutions on issues that affect them. We strongly protest against and harshly condemn the continued harrassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests on trumped up charges that our members are being subjected to.

I will continue to keep you updated as I receive more information.

George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
www.bulamwa.co.ke
+254 720 451 235

Bunge la Mwananchi is a social movement and a member of Kenya National Civil Society Congress

– – –
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:43:54 -0800 [06:43:54 AM CST]
From: George Nyongesa
Subject: SOS – urgent appeal for Bunge la Mwananchi members arbitrarily arrested