Tension gripped the Milimani Law Courts on Monday morning after a group of activists scaled the perimeter fence in defiance of being locked out during the scheduled arraignment of three protest organizers. The trio John Mulingwa Nzau alias Garang, Mark Amiani alias Generali, and Francis Mwangi alias Chebukati were arrested in connection with the June 25 demonstrations against the contentious 2024 Finance Bill.
Security officers at the main court entrance reportedly blocked the activists and other supporters from entering the courtroom, leading to a dramatic scene. In response, some members of the group maneuvered through a side fence to access the compound, sparking cheers from demonstrators gathered outside. “Today, they tried to lock the court doors to keep us out, but they forgot Comrades are for Comrades. We will not be silenced,” one protester declared defiantly.
The arraignment was scheduled for 9 a.m., but confusion erupted after the suspects failed to appear in court. Their lawyer informed the waiting crowd that the trio had not been presented before a judge, fueling suspicion. Shortly afterward, news broke that the arraignment had been moved to the Kibera Law Courts without any prior notification. Activists quickly regrouped at the new venue, continuing their calls for transparency and justice.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had announced the arrests on June 28, accusing the three of inciting violence, theft, and property destruction through online platforms during the nationwide protests. Police claimed they were apprehended aboard a bus en route to Mombasa on June 26.
Civil society organizations have strongly condemned the arrests, terming them an attack on civic freedoms and an attempt to suppress dissent. “This is an effort to suppress dissent. The right to protest is constitutional,” a human rights advocate stated at the court.
As pressure mounts on authorities, supporters of the detained organizers have vowed to keep the campaign for justice alive, insisting that peaceful protest is a right, not a crime. The unfolding events underscore growing tension between citizens and state authorities over freedom of expression and assembly in Kenya.
