Parliament to reconvene for a special session on Eastleigh police operation

By Standard Reporter

Nairobi, Kenya: Parliament may reconvene next week, from recess, for a special session to discuss the ongoing police operation in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area.

Members of the Parliamentary Caucas on Human Rights, led by Kibra MP Ken Okoth, have petitioned Majority Leader Aden Duale and Minority Leaders Francis Nyenze to discuss how best the country can be secured from the threats of terror attacks.

Okoth said that while they support a robust security operation to secure the country, the police have mishandled and undermined the fight against terrorism.

 “The thousands of people who have been arrested are being held in dehumanising conditions. This latest swoop is ill-thought out and would counter to the fight against terrorism,” he said.

He added: “Police have played into the hands of terrorist groups who want to portray Kenya as being against people of Somali or muslim descent.”

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Ndhiwa MP Agostinho Neto said that it was unwarranted to deny the people held in the recent swoop access to food, water, and legal services and that it violated the constitution and international best practice.

“We are against the profiling of ethnic somalis in the name of combating terrorism. Some Kenyans of Somali descent and other Kenyans have helped a great deal in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

Hundreds of people remain detained in Kasarani Safaricom stadium in Nairobi and other police stations as they await screening of their immigration status by police.

Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal also accused police officers of participating in the swoop for turning the operation into a money-making venture by extorting huge sums of money from Eastleigh residents.. He said such a move was compromising the security of the country since some criminals may get away after parting with a bribe.

Matungulu MP Stephen Mule said that another “swoop” is urgently needed at the immigration department which he accused of failing in their mandate to prevent entry of illegal immigrants into the country through massive bribe-taking by its officials. He added that intelligence shortcomings to prevent terror attacks will also be discussed during the Parliamentary special session.

The leaders requested Kenyans to cooperate with any well-thought effort by the government to help in defeating terrorism, but said care should be taken to isolate potential criminals rather blanket demonisation of ethnic or religious communities.