Police Officers on Friday, July 21 roughed up and ejected journalists covering the case of Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino at the Milimani Law Courts.
In a video going round on social media, police officers can be seen slapping and pushing out journalists who wanted to gain access to the court premises.
One of the police can be heard telling them to push people out of the premises. A female voice is heard from the press team introducing herself as a journalist and pleading with the police not to harass them.
At the same time, Babu’s lawyers also accused the police of dressing like members of the press and gaining access to the court premises.
Furthermore, they claimed that the police were trying to interfere with their work as advocates.
Babu Owino in Court
On Friday, July 21, the court released Paul Ongili on cash bail of Ksh.100,000. Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina ruled that the state had no evidence to deny the accused bail.
Babu was arraigned in Milimani Law Court Thursday, July 20 alongside six others including Calvin Okoth alias Gaucho after his arrest on Tuesday evening and charged with subversion.
At the same time, the state challenged a bid by lawyers representing the accused persons to have them released on bail citing national security concern.
Also Read: Babu Owino Freed on Ksh.100K Cash Bail
However, police re-arrested the legislator outside Milimani Law Courts before his family could process the cash bail. His lawyers claimed that police blocked them from paying the cash bail.
MCK calls out journalists
On Wednesday July 19, Media Council of Kenya (MCK) called out police officers for masquerading as journalists to arrest protesters during Azimio demos.
In a press statement, the Media Council of Kenya through its CEO David Omwoyo condemned police’s acts as a threat to the work of journalists.
“The Media Council of Kenya has noted with deep concerns the cases of security officers camouflaging as journalists covering protest with an intent to arrest protestors.
In addition, the Council further condemned the police for harassing and arresting journalists who were covering the anti-government protests.
