Seven people arrested during Wednesday’s anti-government protests in Kisumu were on Friday charged in court with obstructing roads.
The seven denied the charge and were released on a Ksh.100,000 bond each or an alternative of Ksh.50,000 cash bail.
Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Maureen Shimenga, the seven were charged with unlawfully blocking the free movement of vehicles by barricading roads within Milimani area.
The court heard that the suspects, namely; Joseph Oduor, Hannington Oguk, Geoffrey Omecha, Victor Onyango, Joseph Onyango, Hillary Owino, and Backen Omondi, blocked the road using stones and boulders.
However, advocate Robert Maua who represented the suspects, slammed the police through the investigating officer for presenting the accused in court 24 hours after they were arrested.
The investigating officer told the court that the delay to present the suspects in court was occasioned by an amendment of the initial charges by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Magistrate Shimenga directed that the matter be mentioned on August 1, 2023, and that the prosecution supply the court with witness statements and evidence that it intends to rely on during the pre-trial.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o faulted the police for allegedly using excessive force towards the protesters, claiming that the law enforcers were even brutalizing people not engaged in the demos while at their homes.
He further accused the officers of ‘regional profiling’ saying residents of Nyalenda, Manyatta, Obunga and Bandani had been worst affected.
“It has come to my attention that the police officers who have been deployed to scuttle peaceful demonstrations in Kisumu are using excessive force on innocent, harmless members of the public in Kisumu,” said the Governor in a statement to newsrooms.
“Even after stopping members of the public from exercising their democratic rights to picket over high cost of living imposed by the Kenya Kwanza government, the police armed with all manner of weapons are pursuing innocent residents deep into the residential areas and brutalizing them.”
The county boss likewise urged protesters to restrain and expose those posing as demonstrators to destroy property.
“Our people need justice not brutality. I also wish to appeal to the people of Kisumu to restrain vigilant and expose those taking advantage of the protests to destroy property because we had agreed to conduct peaceful demonstrations,” he stated.
