- Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli on Thursday disclosed that a total of 174 people were arrested.
- In Nairobi Central Police Station, for instance, Odhiambo said 60 protesters are being detained while at Kamukunji police station, there were 25.
Image: FILE
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has rallied its members to volunteer their services and help secure the release of protesters arrested on Thursday during the ‘Nane Nane’ demonstrations in Nairobi.
LSK’s president Faith Odhiambo noted that there are several protesters being detained at various police stations across the city.
In Nairobi Central Police Station, for instance, Odhiambo said 60 protesters are being detained while at Kamukunji police station, there were 25.
“We call upon all our volunteer advocates to join both in Milimani and City court to secure the release of the comrades,” Odhiambo said.
She added: “We have been informed that they will all be arraigned at City Court later today, and we will be in court to secure their release.”
Odhiambo spoke after visiting Nairobi Central Police Station where she also used the opportunity to urge the public to share more information about those arrested.
“We will be sending out additional teams to Kileleshwa, Gigiri, Buruburu, and all other police stations where protesters are reportedly being held to ensure nobody is unaccounted for,” Odhiambo said.
Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli on Thursday disclosed that a total of 174 people were arrested.
Out of these, 126 were arrested in Nairobi, 22 in Kitengela and 26 in Emali-Makueni county.
Addressing the press at his office, Masengeli stated the country remained peaceful and normalcy prevailed except in Nairobi where one police officer was injured.
“Consequently, the National Police Service would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all law-abiding Kenyans for preserving peace and maintaining law and order across the country today.
“Kenya is a democratic country and as a service, we wish to reiterate our commitment to promoting democratic policing that upholds the rule of law, professionalism, transparency and accountability,” he said.
Masengeli added that the police acknowledge the supremacy of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, in particular Article 37 that guarantees right for every person peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions to public authorities.
“Despite failure by conveners of today’s demonstration to notify the police of their intention to hold the demonstrations, we ensured adequate deployment of security personnel and cautioned members of public to avoid crowded areas that were likely to turn riotous.”
The police boss added that intelligence had indicated that there were security threats to the country, where criminals had planned to infiltrate the demonstrations and cause havoc.