Chairman of President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii has accused the police of misusing their authority by detaining protesters and releasing them earlier than the allotted 24-hour period.
Ndii claimed that police intended to “abuse their powers” while still abiding by the law, which only permits them to detain individuals for a maximum of 24 hours before arraigning them in court.
Ndii was reacting to reports that activists detained on Friday during the Saba Saba protests had been freed by the police.
“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.
Read: Police Teargas Activists Demanding Release of Anti-government Protesters
Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi on Sunday said the 75 people detained on Friday had been released on free bond.
“All the young activists arrested on Friday in Nairobi at the #SabaSabaMarchForOurLives protests have been released,” he said.
“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.”
The police were looking to charge the protesters with unlawful assembly, assault and destruction of property.
Read Also: Ruto is a “Heartless Tyrant” – Azimio Says Ahead of “Saba Saba” Rally
On Saturday, activists led by former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga were teargassed by the police as they demanded the release of the protestors.
“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.
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