NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 19 — Over thirty student leaders arrested on Saturday for donning military fatigue have been released and asked to report to the police on Tuesday for further processing.
The student leaders arrested during a news conference at 10am were freed at 5.30pm.
Movement for Defense and Democracy (MDD), an Azimio-allied youth group had convened to mobilize support for Monday’s mass action organized called by opposition leader Raila Odinga.
The National Police Service had sent out enforcement teams to the hotel where they bundled the student leaders in three police pickup trucks and detained them at Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Contacted by Capital FM, MDD Convener Antony Manyara said the student leaders were released on free bail but were asked to report to the station on Tuesday.
“We were released around 5:30 pm thereabout on free bail but told to report back on Tuesday morning hours,” he said.
MDD’s Deputy Chairperson Rachel Tabitha wrote on her twitter account that they had been released after city lawyers Apollo Mboya and Jackson Awele intervened on Odinga’s request.
MDD had called for a press meeting to declare that Kenya Universities Students Organization (KUSO) will join in the protest called by Odinga citing tough economic times, increased cases of suicide by students and the rise of LGBTQ as key concerns.
“With me are student leaders drawn from all parts of the country and we have come here today to give directions to many students who are anxiously waiting for Monday. We expect all students in tertiary institutions to join the protest on Monday.”
“We urge all students to be active participants in matters of national interest and champion for a better Kenya,” he said.
