Mwaura: Recent arrests are not politically driven

Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura has said that recent arrests of leaders, including that of Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, are not politically driven.

He said the arrests are based on individual conduct rather than political affiliation.

“It is not fair to say that the people who are being arrested are those against the protest-free government. I don’t think that’s a fair statement. If you look at anyone who may has been arrested, it has to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. It cannot simply be assumed that their arrest is because they do not support the protest-free government,” Mwaura said.

Mwaura said the country is free and democratic, and anyone is allowed to hold a contrary opinion.

“Even within the ODM party, there are voices that may not necessarily agree with the broad-based government, and they have come out strongly to speak about it. We are a free and democratic country. And it’s not just ODM, look at UDA. You’ll find several members with contrary opinions, and they are still not being arrested by anyone whatsoever,” he added.

Mwaura said that no one is above the law, and the government cannot sit back and watch as Kenyans are incited.

He said the government is mandated to maintain law and order, and it doesn’t matter who is breaking the law.

“We cannot say that the government should be held hostage simply because some individuals have followers. Even the government has followers. We are all followers of Kenya, and we should be protected at all costs. We have no other home than this one,” he said.

Salasya was arrested on Friday along the Isiolo-Nanyuki highway and locked up at Nairobi Central Station.

He spent several nights in police custody before his arraignment.

He was released from police custody after Milimani Law Courts granted him a Sh500,000 bond or an alternative of Sh200,000 cash bail on Monday.

This was following his arraignment before the Milimani Magistrate’s Court, where he was charged with hate speech. He denied the charges.

“Since the bond terms are not opposed, I am aided to grant the accused person as follows; he is admitted to a surety bond of Sh500,000 in the alternative cash bail of Sh200,000,” Milimani Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai said.