‘President’s guards tortured me’

Owuor, who recounted his ordeal from police cells and later at the hospital, said he could identify the officers who "tried to castrate me after subjecting me to torture and death threats."

Presidential guards arrested Odhiambo Owuor on Friday. He was later taken to hospital with injuries. [PHOTOS:STAFFORD ONDEGO AND COLLINS KWEYU /STANDARD]

He said he was expressing his concern over high food costs and the passing of the controversial Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008.

After being overpowered by about a dozen agents, he claims he was hurled into an underground dungeon within the stadium before being moved to a cell.

To cover their trail and stall communication with other activists, the agents crushed Owuor’s cell phone on the wall before tearing down his clothes.

He said the officers whipped and kicked him.

"Some of them said ‘we should just kill him’. They told me they could kill me and nothing would be done because of their privileged positions."

Owuor also claimed about nine officers tore down his trousers and squeezed his genitals.

He claims one of the agents tried to knock him out with a wet piece of clothes laced with a sedative. He became drowsy and was hurled into a lonely cell and taken back to Nyayo Stadium until midday, yesterday, when he was transferred to Lang’ata Police Station.

His lawyer Harun Ndubi claimed Owuor "was extensively tortured by" his tormentors and added he might require specialised treatment.

And the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) accused the police of manhandling journalists and human rights activists.

"It is time the President reviewed the work of Police Commissioner Maj-General Hussein Ali. He has tarnished the President’s legacy," said Hassan Omar Hassan, KNCHR vice chairman.

He said Ali was to blame for the sustained harassment of the media and human rights activists.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Nairobi, Hassan demanded immediate release of the MARS chairman Mwalimu Mati, his wife and journalists.

Rights abuse

He said the police were misguided by arresting peaceful demonstrators and reminded the law enforcers their cardinal responsibility was to ensure there was peace and security.

Veteran plolitician Martin Shikuku condemned the arrest of Odhiambo and journalists.

"It is a shame after 45 years of independence, innocent Kenyans are still being arrested. After years of fighting for press freedom and Kenyans demanding for their rights, what Parliament has done is oppressive."

The Kenya Muslims Youth Alliance equated the passing of the Bill in Parliament and the arrests to a declaration of a state of emergency by colonialists in 1952, which heralded the crackdown on freedom fighters.

"This day is also equal in magnitude to that in 1982 when Parliament declared Kenya a one party state thus heralding a regrettable era of political repression," the group said.

The Muslims youth alliance expressed concern the promise of good governance was being abused.

Additional reporting by Morton Saulo