Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday tabled a motion to bar police officers from arresting them on Fridays and during public holidays.
The motion filed by West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi was tabled for discussion on the floor of the House in a bid to prevent the legislators from being detained on the mentioned days.
According to Mr Kemosi, who was backed by his colleagues, the practice by police officers has seen a number of them spend long weekends behind bars.
[caption caption="West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi talking about the unity pact between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga"]
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He noted that the police and detectives have always used the arrests to harass and intimidate not only the lawmakers but also innocent Kenyans as they wait to be presented in court.
Kemosi, who is also a lawyer raised concerns that MPs, senior public officials and other members of the public who are often arrested during the end of the week are most times denied bail.
"The way arrests are organized and conducted are against constitutional rights of suspects and is only aimed at intimidating, harassing and frustrating the accused," Kemosi lamented.
Over ten MPs have in the past been locked up in the police cells on charges of incitement, fraud, and corruption on a Friday.
Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama was the latest MP to spend the weekend in the police cells after he was arrested last Friday night over the suspected land scandal.
Kenya Bureau of Standards Managing Director Charles Ongwae, alongside six other government officials, was last Friday arrested over their alleged involvement in the importation of the contraband sugar.
Reiterating Kemosi's sentiments, Minority Whip Junet Mohammed (Suna East MP) who was once arrested and detained for four days in Pangani Police station together with five of his colleagues in September 2017 lamented that police harass suspects held in their cells before they are presented to the court.
"This house must protect the constitution and we must speak for other Kenyans outside there who are sitting and who should be given reasonable police bail or bond," the ODM MP mentioned.
Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya regretted that with the recent happenings, the country was sliding back to the old days where governments did not respect basic and fundamental human rights.
"All suspects till in court are innocent until proven guilty, we must speak against illegalities made to our colleagues, don’t wait until they come for you," Kimunya added.
Others who vehemently supported the motion included Kisii Woman Representative Janet Ongera and Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu.
[caption caption="Suna East MP Junet Mohamed giving an address on behalf of the ODM party"]
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