Human rights organisations have called for the immediate and unconditional release of three activists arrested in connection with the June 25 anti-government protests. The activists John Mulingwa Nzau alias Garang, Mark Amiani alias Generali, and Francis Mwangi alias Chebukati were taken into custody on June 26 and are currently being held at Muthaiga Police Station.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), alongside several lobby groups, has condemned the arrests, terming them an attempt to silence dissent and criminalise civic action. The activists face charges of incitement and malicious property damage, accusations the rights groups describe as baseless and designed to intimidate human rights defenders.
“These arrests represent a violation of both the Constitution of Kenya and international human rights law,” read a statement from KHRC. “We urge the state not to use the events of June 25 as a pretext for criminalising peaceful protest.”
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated that the trio had allegedly mobilised and led groups responsible for acts of theft, incitement, and destruction of property during the demonstrations in Nairobi and Machakos. The DCI maintained that investigations are ongoing and hinted at more arrests.
However, human rights groups argue that the June 25 demonstrations were largely peaceful and protected under Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble and protest peacefully. They claim any violence witnessed was the result of infiltration by criminal elements allegedly working with state protection.
The organisations have also raised concern over the disappearance of blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia, who was allegedly abducted by DCI officers from his residence for his role in publicising the protest timetable. His whereabouts remain unknown.
The arrested activists are all well-known for their work in documenting police abuse, extrajudicial killings, and social justice advocacy. They also use art and music to promote civic awareness.
Calling for an independent inquiry into police conduct during the protests, the groups warned against the growing trend of suppressing civic freedoms. “Kenya is not a police state. We will not be silenced,” the statement concluded.
