Four Kenyans have been arrested just outside the Ugandan Embassy in Nairobi. The four Kenyan activists were preparing to issue a statement regarding the tensions in Uganda ahead of the Thursday, January 14, General Election.
Those arrested include Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid, Beatrice Waithera, Ojiro Odhiambo and Yassah Musa.
Amnesty International (K) has demanded the immediate release of the activists following the arrest.
“We demand the release of Haki Africa ED Hussein Khalid, Beatrice Waithera, Ojiro Odhiambo and Yassah Musa, who were arrested outside the Ugandan Embassy for speaking against the injustices in Uganda. Standing up for human rights is not a crime,” the NGO wrote on Twitter.
Waithera claimed she was injured in the dramatic arrest enforced by Kenyan police officers.
President Yoweri Museveni has been accused of using the state machinery to muzzle the opposition with campaigns marred by violence and police killings.
Kenyans have have raised concern over the silence of the East African Community member states as chaos hit a crescendo in Uganda.
"Why does EAC, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa and African Union allow Museveni to do what he's doing in Uganda?,” Pius Kinuthia, a political commentator wondered.
Earlier during the day, Ugandan Minister of State for the Vice Presidency Baltazar Kasirivu-Atwooki allegedly survived an early morning assassination attempt by unknown gunmen who shot at his car.
This comes just a day after media personality Jeff Koinange’s interview with Ugandan presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu also known as Bobi Wine, was abruptly cut short following a raid on the politician's home.
Human rights groups have accused security officers in the East Africa country of using excessive force to break up opposition rallies during the campaign.
