Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o yesterday condemned the arrest of 36 Ugandan activists in a Kisumu hotel last week.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party activists were in Kisumu to attend a workshop organised by their party when they were arrested and taken back to their country for prosecution.
Nyong’o termed the incident as unfortunate while distancing the Kisumu County government from any links with the activists.
“Although the County Government of Kisumu has no links with the politicians, we condemn in the strongest terms possible the human rights violations meted on them while within our territory,” Nyong’o said.
He spoke even as a court in the Ugandan capital of Kampala on Monday charged the activists with terrorism.
Nyong’o said he had information from the FDC founder and veteran opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye that the activists had been lawfully allowed to enter Kenya by immigration officials to attend a workshop at the Ukweli Pastoral Centre on the outskirts of Kisumu city.
Nature of crimes
“As the governor of Kisumu where the incident happened, I challenge the Kenyan police to clarify if its officers were involved in the attack and hurriedly deported them while within the territory of Kisumu county and the reason behind the attack,” a visibly exasperated Nyong’o demanded.
Nyong’o also called on Ugandan authorities to explain the nature of crimes which were committed by the 36 activists to warrant their arrest and deportation from Kenya.
According to the charge sheet, the activists travelled to Kisumu, Kenya on July 22-23, “to receive terrorism training.”
Kisumu police remained tight lipped on the arrest, with sources saying Uganda counter parts had tipped them of the illegal convention in Kisumu, County, Kenya and helped in flushing the suspects out in fear of any possible crime.
Consequently, acting on leads, they combed Kisumu a number of hotels, before finding out that uganda FDC leaders were residing at Ukweli.
They pounced there established their rooms and whereabouts and asked them to depart back to Uganda in a huff, before they could accomplish their mission abroad.
