Police raid Eastleigh as State plans cleric’s deportation

Business

By Standard Team

Government promised to deport Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal before the end of tomorrow as it swung into a crackdown over Friday’s protests.

The controversy revolving around the Jamaican cleric continued to cause ripples in the country.

Mr Al Amin Kimathi, a leading Muslim human rights activist, was arrested Monday as he left a courtroom where several men were charged in connection with riots in Nairobi at a demonstration called to protest al Faisal’s detention.

The previous night, police raided the city’s Eastleigh estate and arrested 400 Somalis, including 11 members of the Somalia Parliament. There were also reports that a former army general was among those arrested.

Kimathi, who heads the Muslim Human Rights Forum (Muhuri), was arrested shortly after seven suspects were charged with looting and damaging property worth Sh22 million and assaulting police officers during the chaos. The activist, who was at the head of the protests over the detention of the Jamaican, was whisked away in a surprise move by a dozen police officers led by Central CID boss Festus Malinge.

Police lead Muslim Human Rights Forum Executive Co-ordinator Al-Amin Kimathi from the Nairobi High Court Monday, where he was arrested. [PHOTO: EVANS HABIL/STANDARD]

The activist had unsuspectingly been sitting among the officers in the court’s public gallery as the suspects were being charged before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei. They intercepted him in the corridors as he walked out of the premises with a group of youths.

Youths fight back

There was commotion as the youths tried to prevent the officers from taking Kimathi out of the court premises. He was, however, bundled into a police car and driven away.

Speaking on al-Faisal’s imminent deportation, Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula announced yesterday the Government had managed to secure flight arrangements for him back to his native Jamaica. Wetang’ula said: "We have managed to get a flight for Faisal back to Jamaica and he should be out of Kenya in 48 hours."

Wetang’ula said two countries which he did not name had moved in to assist deport the preacher who has caused anxiety in the country.

Name countries

"I don’t want to name the countries as of now as plans and talks are still ongoing on how the preacher will leave," he said, adding it was too early to give the finer details. The minister was speaking at the Great Rift Valley Lodge after the opening of the retreat for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review.

And yesterday, Wetang’ula denied ever talking to our writer over the deportation of Al-Faisal.

"I did not speak to your reporter. …I have not heard any media briefing at all today," he said on phone.

He added: "I don’t know when Al-Faisal will be leaving. This issue is not a matter we should blow out in the media."

However, media outlets had already picked up the deportation comments.

Attempts by Kenya to deport al Faisal failed last week because Nigeria refused to give him a transit visa to Gambia. Matters got even more complicated when Gambia said it had not been consulted on the cleric’s transit. Al Faisal is being held at Nairobi’s JKIA until the authorities can send him back to Jamaica.

At least two people were killed and scores injured during the clashes between police and Muslim youth who were protesting against the arrest of the controversial cleric.

In court, the seven suspects faced eight counts of taking part in an unlawful assembly on Banda Street and assaulting five officers. The suspects faced another charge of stealing computers, scanners, cash counting machines, chairs, an ATM, flower stands, glasses and phones, all worth Sh10 million from the First Community Bank located in Jamia Shopping Mall.

They were also accused of maliciously damaging windowpanes worth Sh12 million belonging to businessman Mohammed Adan Osman, in the same building.

The seven are Mohamed Dagane Ali, Hussein Lokadeli Mohammed, Mohammed Abdi Mohammed, Bernard Wanjala Ogwala, Hassan Hussein Abukar, Simon Gatonye Gakuya and Mohammed Maloba Yusuf.

Defence lawyers claimed their mobile phones and other personal effects had been "stolen" from the suspects by the police while in custody.

The court ordered that a formal complaint be filed with the Central OCS and the case be mentioned before him tomorrow. The accused were released on Sh10,000 cash bail. The case will be heard on March 17.

Separately, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti has come under heavy criticism for mishandling security issues. Former Justice Minister Martha Karua criticised Saitoti for admitting a security lapse when he announced that a foreign militia group had infiltrated the country. She said Saitoti should own up to being unable to handle the sensitive docket "instead of blaming foreign militia".

She said Saitoti was trying to use Al-Shabaab as a scapegoat when in reality he had failed in his duties.

Karua questioned where the State intelligence was when the Al-Shabaab militia allegedly entered the country undetected and take part in the bloody riots in the country’s capital city.

Excessive force

Karua also accused the police of using excessive force in the protests that left two men dead and scores of others injured. Karua said whether the protestors were justified to take to the streets or not, the Government should have devised humane ways of dealing with the situation.

Speaking to journalists after the opening of Kaimwea Catholic Church in her Gichugu constituency, Karua advised Saitoti to own up the security lapse instead of blaming the militia for the skirmishes.

Meanwhile, the police officer reported to have died following bullet injuries during the riots has spoken out. "I actually do not know how the story came up. I am okay as you can see and the doctor has advised that I be discharged," he said.

Constable Ndwiga Nguli was among six police officers rushed to KNH for treatment after being injured. The others, who were hit by stones and other objects, have since been discharged from hospital.

Nairobi PPO Anthony Kibuchi visited Nguli in hospital to disprove claims that the officer had died.

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