David Ndii accuses police of abusing their ‘power within the law’ after releasing Saba Saba protestors
By Francis Muli, July 9, 2023
The chairperson of President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii of abusing their power by arresting protestors and releasing them before the end of 24 hours.
According to Ndii, the intention by police was to “abuse their powers”, but remaining within the confines of the law which allows them to hold suspects for not more than 24 hours before arraigning them in court.
Ndii was reacting to reports that the police had released activists arrested on Friday during the Saba Saba protests.
“Minutes short of 24 hrs they can hold them without charge. Police have done exactly what they intended, abuse power within the law. We need police accountability, not executive goodwill. But these politically wounded activists think I’m the enemy- lashing out without thinking,” Ndii stated.
Activist Boniface Mwangi on Sunday, July 9, 2023, announced that the activists who were detained at Central Police Station were released on a free bond Sunday morning.
“All the young activists arrested on Friday in Nairobi at the #SabaSabaMarchForOurLives protests have been released. They hadn’t committed a crime. They were simply carrying placards. The police have given them free bond. Thank you to everyone who demanded for their release,” Mwangi said.
At least 75 activists were arrested on Friday in Nairobi’s CBD while protesting against the cost of living, in demos that coincided with Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party’s Saba Saba demos.
On Saturday, a team of lobby groups led by former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga camped at the Central Police Station demanding the release of the protestors.
The activists drawn from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Haki Kenya, and Kenya Bora Tutakayo were however teargassed at the police station.
“We are extremely disappointed by this action by the police, which comes 60 years after independence. Coming 30 years after multi-party politics. It comes 13 years after the adoption of the new constitution,” KHRC’s Davis Malombe said.
The police wanted to charge the demonstrators with unlawful assembly, assault and destruction of property.