Protesters arrested after Gaza ceasefire demos in Nairobi

Police on Thursday disrupted a demonstration in Nairobi and arrested a number of protesters who were calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In a statement Amnesty International Kenya condemned the move by the police stating it is unlawful.

“Amnesty International Kenya expresses its deep concern at the repeated use of armed police officers and teargas to disrupt legitimate picketing by the citizens under the umbrella of Kenyans 4 Palestine,” it stated.

The demonstrations that happened outside the German Embassy were cut short after police tear-gassed the protesters and ended up arresting several activists.

According to the protesters, they had notified the National Police Service as per the law.

Amnesty International Kenya noted  “The demonstrators were lawfully assembled and peaceful. After storming and tear gassing unarmed protestors, at least four people have been arrested.”

The march was called by Kenyans protesting the German Government's support for the Israeli operation in Gaza.

“Ironically, the demand for an end to the bombing of civilians, denial of essential services, and respect for the two-state solution were also expressed publicly as Government of Kenya policy by none other than Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi last weekend,” Amnesty said.

Arrests

An American, German, French, and Kenyan activists were arrested by police on Thursday ahead of a demonstration against Germany’s support for the Israeli military operation in Gaza.

Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators who were marching towards the German Embassy to express their dissatisfaction with the European country’s decision to back Israel in the case presented by South Africa at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

“We were going to express our disappointment with Germany for pledging support and enjoining themselves as a third party in the case in favour of Israel. We believe what is going on in Gaza is genocide and for Germany, a democratic country, to support genocide is disappointing,” Naomi Barasa, an organiser of the demonstration, told the Eastleigh Voice.

"It seems like the murder of non-Europeans is ok for the Germans, US, and Israel to do. Despite what Kenya's president says we stand in full solidarity with Palestine. I am a Palestinian and I stand here with my Kenyan comrades to say Free Palestine" Rasha Al Jundi

"Israel is killing innocent people. This is not right. The Kenya Police is being used to harass Kenyans who know their rights. A society that cannot listen to the truth is a sick society. Take me where you want, but I will fight to the end," Julius Kamau said as he was bundled into a police vehicle.

The organisers of the demonstration told The Eastleigh Voice that they had notified the police about the demonstration.

“They used force on us and injured us; I do not know the whereabouts of two elderly couples who were hit by a tear gas canister. Yet we had notified the Kileleshwa OCS, the OCPD, the regional commander, and the IG.” Naomi Barasa, an organiser of the pro-Palestine demo, told the Eastleigh Voice

“We started notifying the police about the demonstration on 16 January, 2024.The OCS Kileleshwa refused to hear us and directed us to the OCPP, who referred us to the Regional Commander Bungei. His office received our notification. They signed and stamped one copy and filed another, though they didn’t sign the second copy. We were interrogated for thirty minutes at the regional commander’s office on 22 January, 2024. We were directed again to the Inspector General Office and again re-directed to the Deputy IG Kenya Police, who received our notification,” Barasa said outside the Kileleshwa Police station.

Kileleshwa OCS Jeremiah Mwenda, however, refuted claims that police had been notified of the planned demonstration.

He said the four will be charged with incitement and illegal assembly.

Amnesty International Kenya reminded the Government of Kenya and the National Police Service that the freedom to protest and right to assembly are guaranteed by our Constitution.

Our laws require citizens' views to deserve the same level of respect as officers of the state. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested.

Amnesty International officers and lawyers are currently following up at Kileleshwa Police Station.”

The "Kenya For Palestine" and "Kenyan Journalists for Palestine” have been conducting several activities to show their solidarity calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Meanwhile seven activists were earlier arrested in Nairobi CBD and are being charged with assaulting a police officer and they are to appear before Milimani law courts on January  24, 2024.