From: George Nyongesa
Date: Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 7:43 AM
Subject: Fw: Seeking Justice: Unnecessary police arrests in Limuru!

Since our attempt to hold a a peaceful meeting to discuss CDF and other devolved funds at Manjiri Foot Ball grounds which the provincial administration had protested violently against and later got arrested, spent a night in the police cells and charged in court the following day, residents of Limuru area continue to face harassment and brutality in the hands of Kenya Police. See the call for help email below. I appeal to all of us to think of how we can help our fellow citizens to liberate their village from the hands of criminal state agents roaming in their homes.
George Nyongesa
+254 720 451 235

— On Thu, 8/27/09, Samson Mwaura wrote:

From: Samson Mwaura
Subject: Seeking Justice
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009, 1:53 PM

– On Wednesday 19th August 2009 at Kabuku junction Limuru at 20:00 hrs the policemen came to a local video show called Dallars and arrested 35 people who were watching a movie.
-The owner tried to ask the police why did they have to do that and yet he had all the licenses needed to transact that business. They told him they will know when they are taken to the court.
-They were all taken to Tigoni police station and the policemen were looking at them one after the other saying that they were looking for particular faces. The victims could tell that it was members of Bunge la Mwananchi Limuru who were being targeted in the arrest.
-On thursday the 20th August 2009 in the morning 13 people were released after paying some money depending on how much you had.
-On the same day the other 22 people were arraigned in court charged with gambling.The prosecution produced a set of new cards and Kshs 80 that the accused persons were using.
-The Magistrate doubted about the evidence provided and ask the prosecutor how the accused persons could be gambling with one set of cards and Kshs 80.
-The Magistrate ordered the accused persons to be taken back to Tigoni police station and brought to court the following day.
-On friday the 21st August 2009 they were taken back to court where the Magistrate sent them to 14 days in remand without an option of a bond or a fine.In Tigoni they were kept there for saturday and sunday and on monday the 24th August 2009 they were transported to industrial area remand home.
-We all know this boys and others are students.Their charges were substituted from watching the video to gambling.
-We therefore request for legal intervention to assist these boys get justice.

– – – – – – – – – – –
Persons are born with natural rights. Rights to freely associate, right to peacefully assemble, are among them.

The reported police action is clearly in violation of that principle.

To enforce the official recognition of individual rights and liberties, by the state, a clear need for a written constitution / bill of rights, to be supported by appeals thru truely independant courts, is needed.

The current report serves to once again emphasize this fact.

Sincerely
– – awm – – 2009 Aug. 27