Video: Five-hour push for Senator Malala freedom

Tempers ran high before Director of Public Prosecution ordered the release of Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala on Sunday night.

Teargas, police batons and bitter exchanges between law enforcers and the Senator's supporters paralysed operations at the Central Police Station in Kisumu for at least five hours.

Mr Malala had spent two nights in the police cells after he was arrested on Friday evening for questioning over the killings in Matungu.

Hours to his arraignment, the Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji ordered his release, saying investigation into the incident was incomplete.

Prior to his release, Malala’s supporters gathered at the Central Police Station from as early as 5pm. One hour later, word went round that police in Kisumu were yet to receive Haji’s official communication.

Losing patience

By 7pm, his supporters had started losing patience after rumours spread that top security officers had instructed that the Senator spends one more night in the cells. The chanting crowd then surged into the police compound.

Things got worse after some supporters suggested breaking into the cells to get the senator out, prompting police to call for reinforcement.

The presence of more police officers created more tension, with the protesters taunting the security men in the darkness.

By 9pm, when it appeared that the Senator would not be released, the protesters began pushing their way into the OB section of the police station.

Police then fired teargas, with two canisters falling at the OB section, sending the officers manning the desk, journalists and other people waiting at the section scampering.

Regional Police Commander Vincent Makokha then stepped in and appealed for calm, before the senator was finally released at 10.07pm.