Chaotic scenes as youth block road, demand Senator Malalas release

Scores of youth barricaded the road leading to the Mumias Law Courts on Tuesday morning, demanding the unconditional release of Kakamega Senator Cleopas Malala.

The senator had been arrested for flouting the COVID-19 guidelines.

Videos circulating online showed burning tires on the road.

Anti-riot police officers had a hard time dispersing the youth who engaged them in running battles.

Calm was restored by around 9am.

A police charge sheet said that Senator Malala and others held a public gathering on August 16 at the Bomani Grounds.

“At around 1400 hours at Bomani Grounds Mumias West, jointly with others not before court engaged in a prohibited gathering during restricted period by engaging in a public baraza,” the charge sheet read.

On Monday, Malala accused police officers of overstepping their mandate and authority in their attempt to arrest him on Monday morning, however vowing that he will not leave with the officers alone but only in the company of his lawyers and security team.

The officers reportedly camped outside the Kitengela home of the legislator from around 3a.m claiming they were sent by a superior to bring in Malala for questioning.

Speaking to Citizen TV on Monday mid-morning, Malala alleged that the cops cut off his power and water supply in order to frustrate and intimidate him into surrendering.

“From 3a.m to around 10a.m, they disconnected power and I was in darkness…they disconnected water…so it is very unfortunate that the police can go this low,” he said.

“We were pushing for police reforms, little did we know that these police reforms would be more detrimental than what they were in the previous era.”

Malala, at the time of publishing, remained locked in his house saying he would not come out for fear of his life until the officers allow him to at least be accompanied by his bodyguards and a lawyer to whichever police station they intended on taking him to.