The National Police Service (NPS) has been put on spot after demands by Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o over the arrest of Ugandan politicians allegedly by both Ugandan and Kenyan authorities, in Kisumu County.
Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o in a statement on Thursday August 1, demanded answers while condemning the arrest of the politicians, adding that they were attacked and arrested violently.
According to the governor, the 36 politicians drawn from the Forum for Democratic Change Party opposition faction of Uganda were ambushed by people believed to be Ugandan and Kenyan Security personnel at a guest house located within the County, in the middle of the night.
“My attention has been drawn to an unfortunate incident where 36 Ugandan politicians from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party were attacked and violently arrested from a guest house in Kisumu last week,” said the governor.
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o noted that Ugandan opposition leader De Kizza Besigye said that the politicians had just concluded a meeting before the alleged security personnel broke into their guest house rooms, assaulted and arrested them.
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o Issues Statement on Arrest of Ugandan Politicians
The Governor added that he was informed that the politicians had been lawfully allowed to enter Kenya by immigration officials to attend the meeting.
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Prof. Nyong’o while noting that the County has no link with the politicians condemned the arrest, further decrying Human Rights violations during the alleged arrest.
“According to Ugandan opposition leader, De Kiiza Besigye, the FDC politicians had just concluded a meeting at the Ukweli Pastoral Center on the outskirts of Kisumu City on 23 July 2024, when a group of armed people believed to be Ugandan and Kenyan Security personnel broke into their rooms, assaulted, arrested and drove them back to Uganda in the middle of the night,” added Nyong’o.
“Although the County Government of Kisumu has no link with the politicians, we condemn in the strongest terms possible the Human Rights Violations meted against them while within the territory of Kisumu County.”
Police Called Out
Prof. Nyong’o in his capacity as the Governor of Kisumu where the incident happened called out Kenyan police officers for their alleged involvement into the arrest while calling for further investigations.
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Ugandan authorities were also put on spot, with the governor requesting them to inform the public on the nature of crimes committed by the politicians.
“I challenge the Kenyan Police to clarify if its officers were involved in the attack and hurried deportation of the Ugandans and the reason behind the incident. I further call for detailed investigations into this matter. Ugandan authorities should also tell the world the nature of crimes committed by the 36 politicians,” remarked the governor.
The governor has maintained that Kenya is a democratic country that obeys International Human Rights charters and should not be used to curtail the rights of other people legally in our country.
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