Read on Twitter
This morning (Friday) at 9:30 AM, 5 male cops from Kandisi Police Post in Rongai stormed a house near Pesmung gardens in Rongai. What followed next is a classic example of impunity not respecting gated communities or social class! #RizanRomeo
A THREAD
A THREAD
Working from the dining table, I saw a Police car get into the compound. Soon, 3 cops knocked on the front door & before the house manager opened, 2 got into the house via the back door which was open. This house is Docta Eddie's (an award-winning music/video producer).
I asked 4 a search warrant & why they stormed a private residence as if they were getting into a public toilet. Realising I wasn't the owner, they shut me down & some rushed to the Master bedroom & woke up Dr Eddie who was still asleep & they started interrogation.
Others ransacked stuff in other rooms while one was on phone speaking to whoever sent them. Another kept watch outside the house. They ransacked each bedroom, waking people up, seizing prescription drugs while asking for Mohammed from Mombasa (they were quite specific).
After 1 hour of madness, violation of privacy & wielding guns before a one-year-old girl (she was traumatised throughout), they arrested Mohammed aka Rizan Romeo, dropped him in the cell without booking him at the OB at Kandisi Police Post. They later demanded 20k bail.
That marked the beginning of a wasted day. The HRD in me came out & I made calls. I called @AmnestyKenya and other human rights orgs & I sent an alert to HRD groups I belong to. As we made calls to get him out, I became increasingly frustrated.
Who sent the officers? How did they have the boldness to walk into a private house without a search warrant? Were we too low level to be told about the alleged crimes & why they stormed a private house as if they were hunting a global terrorist?
The wife who's five months pregnant and travelled from Mombasa to spend time with him spent the whole day at the Police post getting the husband out on trumped-up charges. She was so stressed we had to assure her throughout.
Qn is, how long will cops be used by 'powerful' people to intimidate & break the law while real criminals roam free? Is it a crime to be a young person? Are we going to arrest people because we don't like their beards, religious beliefs, how they smell or what they do?
Are we going to call cops on people because we aren’t familiar with their faith & accuse them of dealing in drugs because that narrative fits a young Muslim from Mombasa? Maybe his beards, Islamic faith & Mombasa origin marked him as a dangerous man? Cops asked if he’s Kenyan
After what was like an eternity of witnessing abuse of power & impunity, @AmnestyKenya intervened & Rizan was released from the cell on a Police bond. In their classic but tired narrative, they accused him of disturbing peace & being in possession of imaginary cannabis sativa.
Rizan’s only crime is being a youth in a country that suspects young ppl, esp if they are male. It didn't matter that he’s a husband & a 26-year-old musician signed to Dreamland music who left a good job in Qatar to pursue his passion for music in Kenya ()
At that moment, I realized how privileged I am to have numbers that I can call to rescue a person wrongfully accused. But I also felt disturbed because I know the story of Rizan is that of many young people across the country, especially those from informal settlements.
What if anti-terrorism cops came? Like white people call cops on black people in USA, privileged people in Kenya should think be4 they call cops coz it may mean life or death for a young man. He's lucky he's home, some parents visit mortuaries if their sons don't come home.
In case you find yourself in a similar situation or know someone, these resources are great:
1) https://klrc.go.ke/index.php/constitution-of-kenya/112-chapter-four-the-bill-of-rights/part-2-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms/215-49-rights-of-arrested-persons
2) https://twitter.com/AmnestyKenya/status/1288029116667658240?s=08
3) https://twitter.com/irunguhoughton/status/1288043623800606720?s=08
4) https://twitter.com/irunguhoughton/status/1288054274782625794?s=08
1) https://klrc.go.ke/index.php/constitution-of-kenya/112-chapter-four-the-bill-of-rights/part-2-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms/215-49-rights-of-arrested-persons
2) https://twitter.com/AmnestyKenya/status/1288029116667658240?s=08
3) https://twitter.com/irunguhoughton/status/1288043623800606720?s=08
4) https://twitter.com/irunguhoughton/status/1288054274782625794?s=08
Today showed me why it's important to support organisations like @AmnestyKenya who are building a public muscle that can act to protect citizens. (I'm not paid or asked to do this) https://www.amnestykenya.org/get-involved/become-a-member.html
Also, we have to drain this swamp. I renewed my commitment to fight for a better country that offers dignity to her people! A big shout out to @bonifacemwangi @irunguhoughton @Rrajab the OCS Kandisi Police post & everyone who responded to defeat impunity. Aluta continua.
