Human Rights Defenders in Kisumu claim of being intimidated in their work
By Dickson Odhiambo
February 27, 2022
Human Rights Defenders in Kisumu claim of
being intimidated in their work
A Number of Human Rights Defenders in Kisumu are claiming
that they are being intimidated in doing their work.
The Human rights Defenders led by Audi Ogada of Kisumu City
Residents Voice Chairman, Boniface Akatch, John Obure, Chris Owalla and Michael
Otieno Nyaguti of Magnam Environmental Network claim that they are being
targeted, profiled and harassment by some state security agents.
Addressing the press in Kisumu to air their concern in
reference to the incident that occurred last Friday where one of them Michael Otieno
Nyaguti was arrested from his homestead in Otonglo area within Kisumu West
Sub-county and was taken to Kisumu Central police station accused of being in
possession of Bhang, they said such an act is pure intimidation of their
colleague so as not to pursue some matters of public interests he has been
following.
Boniface Akatch says a number of them in the recent past
were arrested and charged maliciously with various offences ranging from robbery
with Violence while others have been detained unlawfully.
He says their work is not criminal in nature and
criminalization of human rights defenders’ work should never be there.
Chris Owalla has appealed to the Government to allow the
Human Rights defenders to their work without any form of interference.
“Human Rights defenders are being intimidated and we appeal
to the Government to protect Human Rights Defenders across the country Kisumu
including,” he says.
John Obure says the Government should ensure that the rights
of all its citizens are fully protected as enshrined in the Constitution of
Kenya 2010.
Audi Ogada says Police officers should do their work
professionally and in accordance to the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the
National Police Service Act.
“I want to urge all the constitutional offices and the
Police that they ensure that the people are fully protected as provided by the
laws of the land,” Audi says.
Michael Nyaguti says police visited his home in Kisumu West
Sub-county and claimed that he was engaging in an illegal business, adding that
he don’t know such an illegal business he is dealing with.
He says he was taken to Kisumu Central Police station where
he was yesterday released by around 1:00 am on a cash bail of shs 30,000 and
told to appear before a Kisumu Court on Monday.
“I want to state that I have not seen the Bhang itself and
it was not shown to me. I am ready to go to court and defend myself,” Nyaguti
says
He says that currently he is handling some civil litigation
where he has been representing the public, claiming that this might be the
reason as to why he is being targeted and intimidated in the course of his work
as human rights defender.
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