Police arrested more than 600 people across Nairobi county during the chaotic protests that were witnessed on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
Nairobi regional police commander Adamson Bungei said the individuals were rounded up at various places in the city county for taking part in Azimio demos which he termed illegal.
The Nairobi police boss said the individuals are being interrogated before charges could be preferred against them.
“They are being interrogated before we know the way forward,” Bungei said.
Police declared the demonstrations illegal arguing there was no official notification on the same as required in law.
More than five people were shot dead across the country with dozens injured in the ensuing confrontations between police and protesters.
Police said the protests happened in almost 30 counties.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the leaders, organisers and financiers of Wednesday’s demonstrations would be arrested and punished.
In a press statement, Kindiki said the government had mobilised all law enforcement agencies to investigate, arrest and prosecute those involved in the planning and execution of the crimes allegedly committed during the demonstrations, putting Azimio leaders on notice.
“This culture of impunity will stop. All those who took part, directly or indirectly, in today’s well-orchestrated violation of public safety and security of our nation shall be punished,” Kindiki warned.
Amnesty
It remains to be seen if the hundreds of protesters arrested on Wednesday will be granted amnesty like those who were apprehended during Saba Saba demos on July 7, 2023.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on July 10, 2023, ordered the immediate release of 73 suspects arrested during Saba Saba demonstrations.
The development came after consultations between Azimio Coalition lawyers Otiende Amollo, Dan Maanzo, John Khaminwa Ndegwa Njiru and Harun Ndubi and the Prosecution to have them freed without preferring any charges.
The 73 protestors were escorted into the court premises under very tight security at 8:45 am and held up in the Milimani Law Courts basement cells until 12:45 when the Prosecution communicated to the court that they will not be charged.
“I have received instructions from my boss that no charges will be preferred against the 73 suspects arrested over picketing on Friday. The same decision has been communicated to the Investigating officer in the matter,” state prosecutor Anderson Gikunda told Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.
