26 members of Mathare Justice Center arrested for alleged incitement

The members claimed the timing of these arrests raises suspicion since they occurred amidst criticism by the Mathare Justice Center of the government's handling of the flood crisis.

Pangani police arrested 26 members of the Mathare Justice Center for alleged incitement on Wednesday morning. The details surrounding the alleged incitement, however, remain undisclosed.

The arrest took place at 11 am at the Mathare Justice Center's offices, where the members were engaged in an educational meeting.

Among those arrested is a woman from the United States who had arrived to deliver a message during an educational meeting at the centre's offices.

The members claimed the timing of these arrests raises suspicion since they occurred amidst criticism by the Mathare Justice Center of the government's handling of the flood crisis.

In a statement on its website, the organisation highlighted the dire conditions faced by hundreds of displaced individuals.

"While the government extends the budget ceiling for State House and Parliament, hundreds of people are currently held in camps, schools, churches, and community halls that lack basic amenities for daily use," read part of their statement.

26 people have been arbitrarily arrested from the @MathareSJustice on the charge of incitement.

This is an attempt to intimidate residents of Mathare from exercising their constitutional right. pic.twitter.com/Z1Vr209Nie

— Martha Karua SC (@MarthaKarua) May 8, 2024

Attempts to secure bail for the detainees by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua were futile, with police declining to grant them bail, citing Pangani as solely a holding station. The case is set to be transferred to the Ruaraka Directorate of Criminal Investigation.

"The police have refused to give them bail saying that Pangani was only a holding station," she said.

Karua condemned the arrests as intimidation against Mathare residents exercising their rights, criticising what she sees as arbitrary actions by police aligned with the government.

"The arrest of these 26 people is an intimidation against the people of Mathare who were demonstrating for their rights," said Karua.

Some of the arrested individuals were identified as Nand Njau, Calvin Ochienge, Agnes Lee, Milltceust Murg, Everline Adhiambo, Edwin Ouyango, Eddy Juma, Nimrod Elkana, among others.

The arrests follow a tragic incident where a 17-year-old boy was killed in Mathare North during house demolitions to prevent further tragedies amid destructive floods.

His mother said she had gone to buy medicine before the tragedy happened. "I was at the hospital buying medicine for my daughter, who has sickle cell disease. When I returned, I was met with the devastating news that my son was killed."

This sparked a confrontation between the residents and the police.

An eyewitness said the confrontation between the police and the residents started when they took the body by force and asked the family not to tag along.