Mombasa Azimio leaders condemn police for dispersing, arresting protesters

Azimio leaders in Mombasa have condemned the action by police to lob teargas on peaceful protesters demonstrating against the high cost of living.

Police arrested several demonstrators after they lobbed teargas canisters to disperse them.

The number of those arrested is yet to be confirmed.

Led by Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki, the leaders said the action by police was against the law saying that they had notified the police 48 hours earlier as stipulated by the law.

"We strongly condemn the police for denying us our constitutional right to protest yet we had notified them on time," Faki said.

"Our peaceful protest was against the high cost of leaving after the passing of the controversial Finance Bill 2023 that has made things worse."

Faki vowed that they will not relent and will not be cowed to back off the demos until the government listens to the plight of Kenyans.

"We shall continue to fight for the rights of Kenyans because the 'Kenya Kwisha' government has failed to give Kenyans the good life they had promised them during campaigns," Faki said.

The leaders said that Kenyans have the right to demonstrate to demand for a better life from the government.

"The cost of unga has gone up, our children are jobless. This is what we are fighting for," said Beatrice Gambo, a former Kisauni MP aspirant on a Wiper party ticket.

Jomvu MP Badi Twalib said that it was astonishing to see the police who are supposed to uphold the law using excessive force against peaceful protestors.

He said that despite writing to the police, they still went ahead to stop their protest without a valid reason.

His Kisauni counterpart Rashid Bedzimba reiterated that the right to demonstrate must be respected.

"This is our right as enshrined in our constitutions. We shall not back down," Bedzimba said.

Mombasa woman rep Zamzam Mohammed called for economic sabotage.

She urged Kenyans from all folks to desist from going to work to deny the government taxes until they head to their calls.

"We understand the government needs taxes to run, but they have increased the taxes too much and the common mwananchi is crying," Zamzam said.

Mombasa Central police station OCS Kipkirui Bor said that the demonstrations were illegal.

He had earlier asked the demonstrators to disperse peacefully saying that demonstrations were not allowed anywhere in Mombasa.

The police barricaded Moi Avenue road to block the protestors from accessing the Central Business District.

Demonstrators engaged police in running battles across the streets for about two hours.

"Yes you have the right to demonstrate, but no demonstration is allowed anywhere in Mombasa"

"I urge you to disperse and go home peacefully," Bor said.