6 Arrested for Obstructing Police Operation in Nairobi CBD

Activists at Kamukunji police station on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
Activists at Kamukunji police station on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
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Six civilians were on Wednesday, November 25, arrested after they allegedly stopped the arrest of another person in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).

The six were taken to Kamukunji police station and arraigned in court on Thursday, November 26.

They were charged with willfully obstructing police officers who had apprehended a man suspected of conning Nairobians.

The incident occurred at the OTC area which according to a charge sheet seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the men were alleged to have interfered with an arrest.

Activists at Kamukunji police station on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
Activists outside Kamukunji police station on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
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"On November 25, at OTC within Nairobi county jointly obstructed officers by throwing stones, pushing and inciting members of the public against officers.

"The officers were at the time moving to arrest a suspect who was selling dummy phones to members of the public," the document read in part.

Human rights groups took to social media to protest their detention. The activists claimed that the six were apprehended on false charges.

"Police arresting civilians without valid reasons has become a norm in this country. We condemn malicious prosecutions of our comrades who were arrested because of condemning police extortion," a community organiser Anami Daudi stated.

Gacheke Gachihi, a coordinator at the Mathare Social Justice Center called for the charges to be dropped.

"This is malicious prosecution. We must demand that they drop charges against the human rights defenders," the activist noted.

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Earlier in October, Nairobi Police Commander Rashid Yakub announced that they had formed an anti-mugging squad to deal with increased cases of muggings and other petty crimes in the CBD.

"The unit is a combination of uniformed and plain-clothed officers who will deal with cases of pick-pocketing, phone-grabbing, and other petty offenses that have become rampant within the CBD," he disclosed.

Nairobi Police Commander Rashid Yakub gives an address at a past function.
Nairobi Police Commander Rashid Yakub gives an address at a past function.
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