Activist protests brother's arrest, car's detention in Kitengela

A Kitengela-based activist, Longton Jamil, has protested his younger brother's arrest by police officers early Thursday.

Speaking to reporters outside Kitengela police station in Kajiado county on Thursday, Jamil claimed police officers trailed Nadhim Longton while he was on his way to a car wash within the Kitengela Township.

"My brother has been assaulted and arrested. He is locked up at the Kitengela police cells," Jamil claimed when he addressed reporters outside the same station hours after the alleged arrest.

He spoke shortly after Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja conducted a security assessment tour of Kitengela town on Thursday.

Kanja, during a press briefing within Kitengela Township, acknowledged arrest, including that of Free Kenya Movement coordinators, Bob Njagi.

Njagi was also arrested in Kitengela town on Wednesday morning, a day before the anticipated Gen Z national protests on June 25.

The police boss, however, noted that all necessary legal processes would be conducted against the arrested persons across the country.

He said those found with evidence of allegedly being in conflict with the law would be arraigned in court, while in cases where necessary evidence is lacking would be unconditionally set free.

"I think I have stated my position on that. That, any person who has been arrested or even those who are going to be arrested later on, the processes and procedures are going to be followed as guided by the law," Kanja said.

Kanja said the country was safe and secure. 

He said security was a shared responsibility between security providers and even the people themselves, including the media.

Jamil protested his car's detention by the officers, claiming it was his only source of livelihood.

He said a client had sent him Sh12,000 for car hire. The client was to pick up the car and travel to Kitale for his errands.

"This vehicle is what gives us a livelihood. A police chief was trailing my car, the only source of my livelihood. It has been detained at Kitengela police station," Jamil said.

"Yesterday, they arrested Bob. Today, they have arrested my brother and seized my car," Jamil said.

Jamil recanted his previous abduction together with Nadhim and Njagi for 32 days.