Kenya: Anti-Graft Protesters Arrested At Ongeri Office

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Chrispinus Wekesa

23 June 2011

Armed police officers yesterday stormed the Ministry of Education offices at Jogoo House and arrested human rights activists protesting inside Education minister Sam Ongeri’s office. The activists were rounded up and taken to the Central Police Station. They had spent Monday and Tuesday night at Jogoo House demanding the resignation of Ongeri over the misappropriation of Sh4.2 billion Free Primary Education money.

Police managed to arrest only 10 activists out of a total of 25 who had camped at the minister’s office. Among those picked up by police included vocal activist Okiya Omtata, Gacheke Gachihi and John Abok.”We are not saying that Ongeri is culpable, but we are saying that he is the duty bearer and therefore has responsibility towards Kenyans to safeguard their resources at the ministry,” said George Nyongesa, who was part of the group camping at Jogoo House.

He added that this kind of civic action is intended to give meaning to the concept of accountability and that it is geared towards inculcating a culture of taking responsibility when things go wrong.

By yesterday afternoon, police had not preferred any charges against the 10 and it was not clear when they will be taken to court. As the activists were being bundled into the police car, one of them was heard saying: “We do not want this back passing. Ongeri says it was Saitoti, Saitoti says it is Ongeri, and Ongeri later says it’s the chief accounting officers. What foolishness is this.”he said.

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