Police are not private property, MPs tell gov’t

A section of leaders allied to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in Kwale County have condemned the Jubilee Administration for what they termed as misusing the country’s security machinery to intimidate the opposition.

Led by nominated MP Zuleikha Hassan and National Council of Imams and Scholars chairman Sheikh Hamisi Banda, the leaders condemned the government for harassing Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.

This was after Joho claimed on Friday that he was arrested and detained by police in Mombasa, claims Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet refuted. IG Boinnet said that Joho alongside other MPs had camped at the station demanding the release of a suspect who was being held at the station.

Ms Zuleikha said that they will not allow the Jubilee Administration to misuse security apparatus for their advantage, saying police are not personal property.

“There is nothing that Joho and other MPs did to warrant their detention. Jubilee Government wants to take us back to [the] Moi era when police were used as a personal property. They should know we have a new constitution which ought to be respected,” she added.

Sheikh Hamisi Banda warned that arresting opposition leaders is a security threat for the country, which should be avoided as the country approaches the August General Election.

“It shows that Jubilee is against the spirit of the new constitution and democracy, which we fought for. It is a plot by the government to take the country [back] to a single party regime,” he said.

Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa said on Saturday that the leaders were blocking the process of interrogation of a suspect who was arrested by police.He accused Joho of inciting his supporters to intimidate officers carrying out the operation noting that claims he was arrested were meant to earn him political mileage, which is not right.

He accused Joho of inciting his supporters to intimidate officers carrying out the operation noting that claims he was arrested were meant to earn him political mileage, which is not right.

The perceived conflict between the Jubilee Administration and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho began about a week ago when the governor’s security team and that of his Kilifi County counterpart Amason Kingi were withdrawn.

Speaking in Mombasa a day later, State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said the move was a decision by the local security commands and refuted claims that it was politically motivated.

“My understanding is that the regional command structures in Mombasa and Kilifi are reorganising themselves and I think it would be up to them to respond to any issues around that. The important thing to say is that there is no political motive in operational matters within the police service”, he said.

“My understanding is that the regional command structures in Mombasa and Kilifi are reorganising themselves and I think it would be up to them to respond to any issues around that. The important thing to say is that there is no political motive in operational matters within the police service”, he said.

The two governors, however, believe their security teams were pulled due to their criticism of the Jubilee Administration.

Their troubles were to last three days before the government reinstated their security details.

According to Vigilance House, the bodyguards of the two opposition Governors were restored Tuesday, January 10 after normal re-organization by Police Headquarters.