Police Wrong in Arresting Oromo Refugees in Nairobi

The Coalition for Constitution Implementation Kenya (CCI Kenya) in conjunction with the Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders Kenya, Bunge la Mwananchi, Kenyan Peasants League and Oromo Solidarity Group condemn with strongest term the arrest of Oromo Refugees by the Gigiri Police led by the OCPD Vitalis Otieno on Sunday while meeting at the City Park despite the fact that the Oromo refugees had notified the authorities of the meeting. 

We would like to remind the police and the government that the article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya allows every person within Kenya a right to assemble hence the decision to arrest the Oromo refugees is a contravention of the Constitution of Kenya and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is worth noting that in Huruma, another meeting for the Oromo refugees was also cancelled despite the fact that the Oromo refugees had notified the police of their meeting. 

We call for investigations on the matter to ascertain whether the arrests are related to a carefully choreographed existing scheme by a system in place that has been harassing the Oromo refugees in Kenya. 

We also call on the EACC and IPOA to investigate the allegations that the Oromo refugees paid KSh3000 for the securing a meeting permit as the law does not allow the police to charge people for holding public meetings and if found guilty, the Gigiri OCPD must be interdicted.

David Otieno 

Convener CCI Kenya