Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) Director Khelef Khalifa and his family who were on Saturday, August 17, arrested in Midas Malindi have been released.
MUHURI announced that Khalifa was released unconditional from Malindi Police Station.
“We express our sincere gratitude to everyone who expressed concern for Khalifa’s well-being. Your calls and support were invaluable. We also extend our thanks to the legal team who swiftly intervened to secure his release,” MUHURI said.
Khalifa was detained after questioning why the Police officers were covering their faces, heads, and failing to display their police badges, as required by law.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) first reported the arrest, condemning the unlawful detainment and demanding the immediate release of the activist and his family.
“Police have detained @MUHURIkenya board member Khelef Khalifa and his family in Midas, near Malindi. Khalifa challenged the officers for hiding their faces when they stopped his car, citing a recent court ruling that mandates police identification,” KHRC said.
“Khalifa was simply upholding the law, and now his freedom is being threatened. We demand the immediate release of Khalifa and his family.”
KHRC condemns Arrest of Khelef Khalifa
KHRC later posted a photo of one of the officers who arrested Khelef and stated that he had been moved to Malindi police station together with his family.
“This is one of the officers who detained Khelef Khalifa and his family. They have now been moved to the Malindi police station. The police must release them immediately,” the commission said.
Also Read: High Court Rules on Police Wearing Face Masks & Displaying Nametags
MUHURI Rapid Response Officer Francis Auma also expressed concern over Khelef Khalifa’s arrest, stating that the activist was taken into custody during the morning hours.
“We urgently demand the immediate, unconditional release of Mr. Khalifa. Any harm that comes to him or his family will be the sole responsibility of the police. Release him now,” Auma stated.
Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga also publicly questioned the rationale behind the arrest of Khelef Khalifa’s family, expressing concern over the actions of the police officers involved.
“The police are now arresting activists in the presence of their families to intimidate them as well,” he said.
The police are yet to provide an official comment on the incident or indicate whether Khelef Khalifa will be charged and arraigned in court.
Also Read: Police IG Breaks Silence Over Abduction of 2 Foreigners
High Court Bans Police from Concealing Identity
The incident comes after High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye ruling directing the Inspector General of Police to ensure that officers deployed to manage protests are in uniform with visible name tags, as per standing orders.
The judge emphasized that officers must not obscure their faces or hide their identification to ensure they are easily identifiable.
“National Police Service shall at all times affix a nametag or an identifiable service number in a clearly visible part of their uniform when engaging with, providing. security for, or in any way dealing with any person(s) who is or is planning on assembling, demonstrating, picketing, or petitioning; and they shall not remove or obscure the same,” read the court order.
Additionally, Mwamuye ordered that police vehicles’ identification, registration, and markings must remain visible when dealing with those assembling, demonstrating, picketing, or petitioning.
The directive followed the rising cases of illegal arrest of people, particularly demonstrators in the recent anti-government protest.
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