On Tuesday, police in Kwale County arrested three protesters as they left a supermarket where they had purchased Vuvuzelas for what they described as a peaceful demonstration. The group, led by activist Sumeiya Omar, stated they were not carrying any weapons, only manila papers, phones, and snacks.
They were protesting against poor governance and inadequate service delivery from both levels of government.
The three protesters were taken to Diani Police Station, but their lawyers reported that no charges had been filed against them. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Kwale branch, condemned the arrests, asserting that the demonstrators had the right to protest and petition the government.
Advocate Irene Oguna, who visited the station to arrange their release on police bond, criticized the police for not granting the request. She argued that the protesters were peaceful and that the police should have protected them rather than arresting them.
“We demand that the protesters be released or granted bail. The correct action should be taken,” Oguna stated. Another advocate, Emma Ogolla, pledged that LSK would represent anyone arrested during demonstrations in Kwale and encouraged the youth to continue holding the government accountable.
