From: George Nyongesa
Subject: Breaking news update: Demonstrators re-arrested held at Central Police Station
Date: Thursday, December 24, 2009, 10:14 AM
Dear Kenyans and friends of Kenya,
We have been re-arrested and are currently being held at Central Police Station. It is not clear whether we will be granted bail although concerted efforts are being made to secure our release. Amongst us are elderly women as old as 65, 63 and 55 whom the police have refused to release even on cash bail.
Earlier this evening, the judge at Kibera Law Courts dismissed the case against us since the charges were found to be defective. Despite our having served due notice to the police of the intended demonstration today, we were arrested earlier today and after being held for a while at Central Police Station were produced at Kibera Law Courts and charged for an alleged unlawful assembly. At the courts, we were kept waiting until late this evening when the judge heard the case and dismissed it when the charges were found wanting. We were immediately re-arrested and continue to be held at Central Police Station.
The demonstration today was organised by concerned Kenyans who are representative of strong public discontent over the blatant and rampant culture of impunity that is manifest in the misappropriation of funds meant for free primary education and in the plan to spend billions of taxpayers money to compensate persons who should not even in the first place have owned land in the Mau Forest.
We appeal for your support in keeping these issues in the headlines. Let the voice of the grassroot Kenyans not be silenced by the perpetrators of impunity and their terror machinery. We refuse to be intimidated by these scare tactics and remain committed to fighting for Kenyans and all our children.
In solidarity,
George Nyongesa
From: Bunge la Mwananchi
Subject: Breaking news: Demonstrators against misappropriated education funds and Mau compensation plans arrested
To: “George NYONGESA”
Date: Thursday, December 24, 2009, 10:09 AM
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Bunge la Mwananchi’s George Nyongesa, Okiya Omtatah and 30 others, mostly women, have just been arrested and taken to Central Police Station a few moments ago.
They were part of a demonstration organised today to protest the misappropriation of free primary education funds and protest against the planned compensation of people who own large tracts of land in the Mau Forest. The demonstators had duly notified the police of the planned demonstration which was to culminate in serving a petition from grassroot wananchi on the President and the Prime Minister expressing strong public sentiment on these two pertinent issues. The group was demanding the resignation of the Education Minister and the Permanent Secretary and protesting the planned spending of public funds towards compensating individuals who are holding land in the Mau Forest.
We will continue to keep you updated. However, we encourage you to join us in protesting against the culture of impunity in Kenya. Do come to the Central Police Station and support us in making the voice of the grassroot Kenyan heard on these important national issues.
Bunge la Mwananchi Secretariat
On Fri, Dec 25, 2009 at 8:17 PM, Bunge la Mwananchi wrote:
Dear Kenyans and friends of Kenya,
By way of update – the old ladies aged 65, 63 and 55 are still in custody at Central Police Station Nairobi. One has collapsed a short moment ago and the other two are really vomiting. Efforts are being made to have these heroines urgently taken to Nairobi Women’s Hospital for medical attention.
We request your support in lobbying for and securing the immediate release of at least the elderly women and at best the whole group. After being re-arrested late yesterday evening after being set free at the Kibera Law Courts, the group were held overnight and all day today. There has still not been any cash bail option offered to the group.
We will continue to keep you updated. In the meantime we urge you to continue lobbying for these arrests and the reasons behind the demonstration to remain in the public headlines. Thank you for your support.
Regards,
Bunge la Mwananchi Secretariat
Date: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 7:23 AM
Bunge la Mwananchi wrote:
Breaking news – Elderly women collapse at Central Police Station
By way of further update – last night, the ailing elderly heroines of Kenya not taken to Nairobi Women’s hospital for the urgent medical attention they required. Instead, the police simply administered some attempt at first aid and locked them up again for the night. As we write this morning, these courageous women continue to suffer behind bars. We urgently require to secure their release. The rest of those arrested protested vehemently to the extent that they would not allow the police into the cells last night.
The male inmates have been denied food and water since yesterday. The supplies supporters and family have been taking to them were rounded up last night and distributed to other prisoners or kept in the office of the OCS. These gallant men are not being allowed to join other prisoners at meal times. The room in which they are being held is next to the overflowing toilet facility. The bulbs were last night unscrewed from the toilets which makes it impossible to venture in. In addition, their shoes and socks were taken last night leaving them barefooted. The water to the toilet serving 125 prisoners was turned off immediately the group was brought in on Thursday. There have been attempts to isolate some amongst the group from the others but the others have been resisting.
This email is an urgent appeal to fellow Kenyans and friends of Kenya to step up to defend these people who courageously sacrificed theirs and their families’ Christmas in order that the perpetrators of impunity may be loudly and clearly made aware of grassroot Kenyans’ indignation at and intolerance to their continued impunity.
Even if you are not a member of the media, lawyer, human rights activist or a member of the civil society by any other design, you can still do something:
1. You can circulate this email to someone who can do something
2. You can visit those arrested since some of their families may not even be aware where they are – warm clothing is also required in addition to food. Glucose will be helpful for waning energies. Your smile and word of encouragement will keep spirits up.
3. You can sms or call your MP and register your opinion
4. You can sms or call your MP and petition for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested
5. You can petition the police commissioner and the officer in charge of the police station – especially concerning the elderly women and medical attention
6. You can petition the office of the president and the prime minister and minister of justice and constitutional affairs
7. If you are a doctor you can visit and offer your professional service to those who require it at the police station
8. The international community and members of the diplomatic community in Kenya are also able to offer support without interference.
9. You can contribute to a kitty of money that will go towards bail when that is eventually offered. Remember there are about 22 people behind bars, who are largely unable to raise bail money should it be required. If we get an early start in this regard, it will shorten their stay behind bars as soon as it is possible to get them out on bail.
10. You can pray for God is a God of justice and is especially concerned for the welfare of widows, orphans and the oppressed.
Most important of all, generate as much public interest as possible.
Show up by the numbers. Especially in court on Monday 28th morning (we will communicate which court it is as soon as we know – however, if you are at the police station early Monday morning you will be able to accompany them and show solidarity with them and their families).
The point is that each of us can do something. We urge you to do so. Your voice and your action make a real difference no matter how small.
We are grateful for the coverage received so far by certain media houses but urge them and their collegues in other media houses to continue to support Kenya’s liberation by continuing to cover this matter and according it the grave importance it deserves.
We are also grateful for the lawyers who have attempted to secure the release and urge them to keep supporting us in this regard.
Thanks also to members of the civil society who have been to Central Police Station and endured the uphill task of getting to see and speak with those incarcerated.
Thank you to the online community that continues to spare time to discuss their sentiment over prevailing conditions and how a difference can be made. Thank you for those that have contacted someone they know in an influential position seeking to assist those arrested.
Thank you for the self-sacrificing families of our comrades.
In solidarity,
Bunge la Mwananchi Secretariat
There will be a press conference at the princints of the Central Police Station on this matter at 11Am 26th. Please bother to attend.
Okiya wrote
We need charged Nokia 1100 battery to keep you informed. Men have been denied food and water since jana Lunch. The tissue, food and water brought by friends has either been given to other prisoners or being detained by the OCS. we are not allowed to join other prosoners during meal times. our cells are horibly dirty. toilet is padlocked 24/7. the water to the single toilet serving 125 prosoners was turned off immediately we were locked up. Toilet light bulbs were removed last night making it impossible to dare tiolet overflowing with you guess what and bare feet! Our shoes were snatched by the cops. there have been attempts to grab and isolate me from the rest but the men resisted. we need airtime to keep you informed. sambaza on 254722684777 or 254720451235
I wish to inform all of you who have been concern and kept helping all through this process. the activists were release at 5Pm today on a free bond. they will be at the Kibera law courts to answer charges that we are yet to know what they will read.at 8Am. let keep the fight on. be at Kibera and let’s show solidarity.
Kenya is ruled by a bunch of corrupt elites taking orders from some foreign masters who are still in powers.
The elites and their foreign sponsors and financiers are above the Kenyan laws. No average Kenya understands why these people are in powers because they are not solving Kenya’s problems.
There is chaos between the members of ODM as well as between members of ODM and PNU which form the Coalition government!
While the chaos rules the day in Kenya, the rules governing the East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi), which have far reaching consequences are being shaped without representation form Kenyan. That means, Paul Kagame and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are in charge of writing the rules by which the five East African countries will be governed. Some of these rules involve movement and residency of people currently restricted in their respective territories.
Judging by what Paul Kagame is doing in the Democratic Republic of Congo with respect to resources there, poor citizens living in Kenya and Tanzania may wake up one morning and find out that they are in a quagmire similar to what is happening in Congo!
Kenya is drowning in corruption including LAND GRABs of the worst kinds. Nobody knows who owns what land in Kenya. Elites ruling Kenyans have helped themselves to some pieces of land in Kenya and they are the ones who may have some clues as to what parcels of land have been handed to foreigners who are controlling them.
There are talks in the current EAC involving land! If Kenya is not represented at these talks, outside forces may have decided to take advantage of the political confusion in Kenya to screw Kenyans BLUE!!
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/-/2558/830986/-/px3tn9z/-/
QUOTE
Tanzania, long seen as the obstacle to a fast-tracked political union of the East African Community partner states, has finally broken out of isolation as prominent voices in the region break ranks with politicians to urge a more gradual and people-centred process.
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Questioning the viability of creating a political federation exclusively driven by politicians and bureaucrats while citizens are given a ringside role, retired judge of the Ugandan Supreme Court Prof George Kanyeihamba says that the EAC in its present form is at best a gentleman’s agreement between the leadership elites of the respective states with little, if any, input from citizens.
Alongside dons from Tanzania, Prof Kanyeihamba was speaking during a high level policy dialogue on regional and socio-economic integration in the East African Community organised by the Advocates Coalition for Development (ACODE) in Kampala earlier this month.
Kenya was not represented at the Kampala dialogue.
“The campaign for the East African Community and a possible EA federation are the preserve of the ruling classes in the region. It can be said therefore that the EAC is the result of a gentleman’s agreement between the leadership of the respective states with little, if any, input from the people of East Africa. I question the sincerity and viability of creating a political federation,” said Prof Kanyeihamba.
Authoritarian approach
In a heated debate between scholars, the EAC Secretariat staff and legislators of the EA Assembly, the top-bottom approach to achieve the political federation — which was said to be authoritarian in the first place — came under attack, with the Tanzanians warning that they would abandon the Community altogether.
“Downplaying or ridiculing the concerns of some people or partner states on certain aspects relating to the establishment of the East African Federation should stop. For instance, when you ask Tanzanians to choose between the EAC and SADC, the answer is obviously SADC because it was Nyerere’s brainchild.
There are no East Africans in the EAC and they won’t be created by a treaty,” said Prof John Kabudi the Dean of the School of Law at the University of Dar es Salaam.
“It appears the five countries are not ready for the political federation yet we continue to invest our resources in that process. We should invest somewhere else. Let’s focus on co-operation instead of this federation business, Prof John Mugabe from Uganda reiterated.
Prof Mwambutsya Ndebesa, a lecturer in History and Development Studies at Makerere University, said, “There is no common ideology in East Africa. The issue of fast-tracking political federation should therefore be halted. In history a federation has never succeeded without the use of force, apart from Israel.”
Analysts have observed that a political federation would be unattainable until issues of ethnicity in partner states, discrepancy in economic benefits, a conducive environment for acquisition of land and free movement of people and capital within the region have been addressed.
“Most of the fighting is about how much one is selling. We should review the Kampala agreement and move away from trade integration to production integration. Our integration should be more out of necessity than a choice, gain or power,” Prof Mwesiga Baregu of the University of Dar es Salaam’s Department of Political Science observed.
Civil society groups have also asserted that the continued disregard of a people-centred principle enshrined in the Treaty in the campaign for the federation has denied the process legitimacy.
UNQUOTE
Why apply state time and resources in confining peaceful demonstrators against plunder of state resources.
Why torture old women for being denied to participate in a peaceful assembly.
In Kenya, when a crime is perpetrated, the victim gets punished for raising an alarm and the perpetrator is protected.
Why is H. E. the President not protecting the innocent women from the rogue law enforcement agent.
Whys is the R. H. Prime Minister not liasing with the Minister of Internal Security to
Where is Hon. Ruto, Uhuru, Kalonzo and Balala yelling against this injustice.
As I have said before, fellow Kenyans,our country is long dead, decomposing without a decent burial and wild dogs are already feasting on its decomposing body. Soon we shall all get sick from the mess.
Oh! Dear Kenya. You were murdered and left to decompose. Those who murdered you want to exterminate us your children. Who will help me buy insectcides to kill the flies feasting on the decomposing body of our mother Kenya? Who will help me send away the wild dogs hoovering around to feast on the decomposing body? Who will help me send away those who murdered our mother Kenya from Killing us. They cannot even allow us bury her decently!
God save us the children of Kenya, we are praying.