By Peter Ochieng
Members of the National Police Service (NPS) have been barred from using live bullets, rubber bullets, water cannons and teargas or any other weapons to quell demonstrations.
For the past one week, police have used the aforementioned in plenty to tackle anti-Finance Bill, 2024 demonstrations. The Bill has since been withdrawn in its entirety, by President William Ruto after overwhelming public uproar.
Ruling on a petition filed by lawyer Saitabao Ole Kanchory, Justice Mugure Thande in addition prohibited the use of brutal force or any form of violence against protestors.
Kanchory argued that police have resorted to arbitrary arrests and illegal abductions of protesters, intimidation and harassment. He said police have been violating the protester’s right to liberty and their freedom from torture.
Notably, the judge issued an order stopping police from committing any extrajudicial killings, arrests, abductions, detentions, harassment, intimidation, torture, or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of persons protesting against the Bill.
“I find the petitioner has demonstrated that the petition is arguable and not frivolous. Second, he has demonstrated that it is in the public interest that the orders sought are granted,” ruled Justice Thande.
Meanwhile, 13 vocal social media users reportedly abducted at the height of anti-Finance Bill demonstrations have been released.
They include Gabriel Oguda, Osama Otero, Khalif Kairo, Ernest Nyerere, Zadock Nyamari, Dr Austin Omondi alias Japrado, Billy Simani, Drey Mwangi, Frank Githiaka, Brian Ngula, and Florence Atieno among others.
Their advocate confirmed that they are all out, after High Court judge, Chacha Mwita directed that the relevant parties appear before him today, to confirm whether orders he issued directing their release have been complied with or not.
Earlier this week, Justice Mwita issued an order directing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Attorney General, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to immediately and unconditionally release all social media users allegedly abducted after expressing their misgivings with the Finance Bill.