Families of ‘hate speech eight’ barred from seeing them
The eight politicians accused of hate speech spent the second night in custody even as colleagues tried in vain to secure their release.
Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) Junet Mohammed (Suna East), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete), Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) and Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati) were at Pangani Police Station.
Kilifi Woman Representative Aisha Jumwa and her Busia counterpart Florence Mutua were detained at Muthaiga Police Station.
Colleagues, friends and relatives of the detained politicians were not allowed into the stations.
The few who got in could not see the leaders, with the police chiefs telling them they were acting on orders.
At Pangani Police Station, the lawmakers’ spouses were allowed to visit them after 11am.
NO FOOD, CLOTHES ALLOWED
However, they were not allowed to get into the cells with food, water, blankets or clothes.
“We were not allowed in but I pleaded with them to let their spouses to see them,” former Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu said.
The lawmakers were arrested on Tuesday in various city spots and taken to court, which allowed the police to detain them for four days.
The denial of entry into the stations agitated the lawmakers’ supporters and families who threatened to storm the station, but officers requested for reinforcements.
Administration Police officers in riot gear arrived at Pangani station minutes later.
There were about 10 armed officers at Muthaiga Police Station, despite little activity. The gates remained closed and those allowed in were frisked.
Only lawyers for the lawmakers were allowed into the stations. However, they could only talk to the stations’ chiefs.
ODM chairman, John Mbadi said the top Cord leadership would hold a meeting to find a way of bailing out its MPs.
