Activists Released Following Teargas Chaos At Central Police Station

Activist Boniface Mwangi on Sunday, July 9 announced that the activists who were being held at the Central Police Station in Nairobi were released.

Mwangi, a professional photojournalist, had revealed that the 35 individuals were given free bond after spending nearly two days in custody.

"All the young activists arrested on Friday in Nairobi at the #SabaSabaMarchForOurLives protests have been released. They hadn’t committed a crime.

Police bundle activists into a police car during the Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2023. /BONIFACE MWANGI

"They were simply carrying placards. The police have given them free bond. Thank you to everyone who demanded for their release," he stated.

Mwangi however criticised Inspector General of Police (IG), Japhet Koome and Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei, claiming that they had ordered the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Central Police Station, Moses Mutayi, not to release the 35 individuals on bond.

More activists joined in sharing the news of their release and thanked Mwangi as well as former Chief Justice (CJ) Willy Mutunga.

"After all efforts from the state to continue detaining us at Central police station after they arrested us during #SabaSabaMarchForOurLives, they denied us our constitutional rights. We are free at last we will not relent," activist Anami Daudi stated.

The activists were arrested during the Friday, July 7 rally spearheaded by opposition leader, Raila Odinga, with Mwangi accompanying Mutunga to the police station the following day to demand that they be set free.

However, Mutunga was teargassed at the station which was turned into a battleground as he demanded the release of activists arrested during the Saba Saba demonstrations. Teargas smoke engulfed the station as Mutunga and other attorneys he was in the company of scampered for safety after the law enforcers unleashed teargas on them.

One person was reportedly injured during the incident that disrupted normal operations at the police station.

"Police have decided to teargas their workplace and beat some of us. President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua continue to undermine the Constitution," Mwangi lamented.