Police officers led by an Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) have been accused of attacking human rights defender Francis Auma of Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) in Mombasa.
Human Rights Activist and Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid said Auma had survived an assault by the security officers on the evening of Saturday, 2 August 2025.
In a statement, Khalid reported that the airport OCPD was among the officers who allegedly attacked the activist.
“Information coming in just now is that renowned Mombasa human rights defender Francis Auma of MUHURI has this evening survived an attack/assault by police. According to Auma, among his attackers was the Airport OCPD,” Khalid said.
He mentioned that Auma was seriously injured and bleeding from his ears after the incident.
Khalid claimed that human rights activists in Mombasa are in danger since the police are targeting them.
“Auma has sustained serious injuries among them bleeding from his ears. This attack is clear evidence that human rights defenders from Mombasa are not safe and that they are being targeted by police,” he said.
Francis Auma Attempts to Stop Finance Bill 2025
Auma was among the human rights activists who were arrested on 29 May after attempting to stop a Finance Bill 2025 public participation forum in Mombasa.
He was detained alongside Mathius Shipeta of Haki Africa at Tononoka Hall, where the forum was underway.
They had demanded that the session be postponed in observance of Eid-ul-Adh, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice celebrations.
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The two activists argued that it was not right for the process to be undertaken during a public holiday.
“Today is a public holiday. Why are you conducting the process today? You are disrespecting the Ministry of Interior,” one of the activists declared during the interruption.
Auma and Shipeta were dragged out of the hall and detained despite having a court order they had obtained to block the process.
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Protests Against Eliud Lagat
He was also one of the four protesters who were arrested in Mombasa on 17 June during protests to demand the arrest of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat after the death of Albert Ojwang.
Auma was arrested alongside Walid Sketty, Batuli Swaleh, and Mugambi Gichunge and taken to the Central Police Station in Mombasa.
Auma and Sketty are also the people who picked Mwabili Mwagodi from Diani police station after he was allegedly dropped in a bush in Kinondo in Kwale County.
Mwagodi went missing on July 27th and was found on July 27th.
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