Amnesty boss protests arrest

Renee Ngamau

The Chairperson of the Amnesty Kenya Board Renée Ngamau expressed her displeasure on Twitter minutes after her arrest on Monday night for what the police termed as malicious damage to private property.

By the time Renée got home at around 11pm on Monday, 11 officers we waiting for her outside her gate. 
The Amnesty boss was arrested for rallying her neighbourhood, Jamhuri Phase 1 estate association to block any attempt to grab public land from an individual she says ‘has never obtained a permit to do anything including digging boreholes”.

Speaking at Milimani Law courts this morning, she explained that the police raided her house at night without a warrant of arrest. She says this was not coincidental but deliberate to ensure that the person grabbing the land can continue to do so under the sanction and behind the uniforms of law enforcement.

“My fellow Kenyans, if we don’t draw the line somewhere, we will have the country that we always prayed we would never have,” challenged Renée.

“Residents protest the grabbing of public land and they get arrested while the land grabber goes free. I am currently under arrest for protesting grabbing of land.”

By 8 this morning, in the company of LSK President Nelson Havi, Renée had presented herself to Milimani Law courts for plea taking but two hours later, no charge sheet had been presented to the court.

“Public property belongs to the public. The people of Kenyan and when individuals come out to defend public property they should not be castigated or vilified in the manner we’ve witnessed. I must say its been a total waster of her time and out time and this waste is designed to ensure that people are suppressed from demanding the rights, freedoms upheld by this county,” said Havi.

Renee Ngamau and LSK president Nelson Havi at Milimani Law Courts

“Since when was it lawful for a person to build private property on public land? The complaints of this issue have numerous both at the police post I was arrested and the police station I was renditioned to last night. The police have done nothing even though there have been more than 23 witnesses and complainants to this matter,” said Renée at Milimani Law courts.

She protested that despite her being arrested for opposing the land grabbing in Jamhuri phase 1 estate, the illegal exercise is still ongoing without the approval of the authorities.

“Right now, as we speak, the trench across the children’s playground is still being dug. Right now, as we speak the man who is behind that is continuing to push forward his agenda claiming there is nothing, we can do ata tukienda kwa police [even if we go to the police]. The defenders are the ones in court.” said added.

Renée was released on a police bond yesterday night. The prosecutor has also approved extension of the cash bail until September 23, 2020, to give The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) time to study the file and give directions.