President William Ruto addresses Isiolo county residents on July 21, 2023.
Fifty suspects arrested in a police crackdown on Saturday hours after President Ruto’s meeting in Isiolo town was marred by heckling were on Monday arraigned amid protests they were victims of State retribution.
With the exception of one suspect who was accused of obstructing the presidential motorcade on Friday, February 7, the other 49 seized on Saturday were all charged with being drunk and disorderly.
They were released unconditionally and warned against such lawlessness after pleading guilty to the charges.
However, Shuaib Yusuf who pleaded guilty to a charge of stopping in the middle of the road thereby obstructing the presidential motorcade was released on a cash bail of Sh5,000.
He was charged with committing the offence at around 2.20 pm on February 7 while driving a tuktuk registration number KTWC 311Y at LMD Junction along Isiolo-Archers Post Road in Isiolo North sub-County.
The suspects faced the minor offences when they appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Maureen Odhiambo, although authorities had indicated the crackdown was linked to illegal drugs trade.
Crackdown order
The arrests followed the crackdown ordered by President Ruto after some youths heckled him at Prison Farm grounds in Isiolo during an address as he concluded a week-long tour of Northern Kenya counties.
President Ruto directed the operation targeting drug peddlers in Isiolo and Marsabit counties warning of increased trafficking from neighbouring counties.
The crackdown which started on Friday night was targeting drug peddlers, muggers, illicit brew and second-generation alcohol dealers as well as people found idling past midnight.
Groups of youths from rival camps competed to heckle their opponents as President Ruto addressed hundreds of Isiolo residents after leading the groundbreaking ceremony for Isiolo Aggregation and Industrial Park project.
“The youth who were heckling leaders brought shame to the Isiolo county leadership because of political differences between the governor and the Senator. The situation is linked to rising drub and substance abuse in Isiolo,” said Isiolo county commissioner Geoffrey Omoding.
Mr Omoding said the illegal drugs tarde in Isiolo was had reached alarming proportions with suspects going as far as compromising law enforcers.
But even as the suspects were released, relatives complained that they were arrested illegally and accused the government of intimidation.
Human rights activists blamed President Ruto's administration for targeting the youths simply because he had been heckled, and accused him of intimidation and harassment.
Ms Judith Gatwiri, whose cousins Ramadhan Juma was arrested on Saturday said Mr Juma had not committed any offence.
“He was going to the shop at around 9am and I saw policemen call him and he obliged. Just like that he was bundled in a truck and they took him away. He had not committed any crime,” Ms Gatwiri said.
“My cousin was not even at the meeting where the President was heckled and he turned up being a victim. That was very unfair,” she added.
Mr Thuo Kinyanjui, National Commission on Human Rights Isiolo county coordinator said the security swoop that started on Friday night targeted youths who heckled the president, Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and Senator Fatuma Dullo on Friday.
“This was simply harassment and it is unacceptable. We have received complaints that at least 17 motorcycles are also being held by the police. Why did they take away the motorcycles? It was simply meant to intimidate the youth of this region,” Mr Kinyanjui said.
Ms Diana Kinoti, a paralegal officer, said they were shocked that the arrests were made arbitrarily without following any due process.
“This is the first time we’re witnessing this kind of impunity in Isiolo. People were allegedly arrested for being drunk and disorderly but there was no testing conducted on them. How can you just meet somebody and decide they are drunk without any testing? This was pure harassment and we condemn it,” she said.
Ms Khadija Abdi, whose said they welcomed the President peacefully amd wondered why heckling by a few youths had led to suffering of innocent people and their families.
“Last Friday I was shocked when I was told that my cousin and his wife had been arrested while they were going home after having dinner at a restaurant. They have been held since then and that is not fair,” she said.
“The president also told us that we are drunkards, comments that we did not take lightly. We want the president to come back and apologise to the youth of Isiolo,” said Ms Abdi.
According to security agencies, the crackdown on drug peddlers would be stepped up in Isiolo due to increased drug trafficking along Isiolo-Marsabit highway.
“The drug dealers bring drugs from Shashamane in Ethiopia through remote areas in Marsabit and into Isiolo. In the past, we make key arrests but when suspects are taken to Nairobi, they are released in unclear circumstances. We are now following the president’s order to clean this town,” Mr Omoding said.
