Activist Maina Kiai claims a group has threatened to torch his Nyeri home. Photo/XINHUA
Kiai who was the founding chairman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) says he also fears for the lives of his family members who have received unspecified threats from a group known as Nyaribo Support Group.
“I have been informed by the police that some militia early this morning intended to burn my family home in Nyeri,” he said.
“The group has been asking my family about me and upon further probe the police advised that I should not use my mobile phone as I could be under surveillance,” Kiai added.
Kiai told a news conference in Nairobi that some elements were spreading fear and intimidation over the ICC cases.
“I fear for the safety of everyone in this extremely intimidating environment that grips the country fuelled by bloggers acting with impunity.”
Kiai added that the bloggers were falsely linking innocent people as witnesses in the ICC cases.
“This dangerous and destructive approach is directly fuelled by well-known hate bloggers – including those who are now staff at State House, right at the heat of the presidency.”
We will hold the government responsible should anything happen to me, my family or any other human rights activists
When contacted over the claims, blogger Dennis Itumbi who now works at State House laughed and said “I’m going to watch Safaricom 7s rugby.”
“Lies and fear on social media is escalating with direct consequences and our security system is seemingly unable or unwilling to charge the bloggers,” said Kiai who complained that civil society activists have been under attacks for exercising their human rights.
He further made it clear that he and other activists will hold the government liable for any harm that may come their way.
“We will hold the government responsible should anything happen to me, my family or any other human rights activists who are simply defending the Constitution,” said Kiai.
The activist has been accused of being a mole in the ICC trial cases after he was allegedly spotted in the Netherlands last week and he has moved to refute those allegations.
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