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Three Kenyan activists have been arrested and beaten by the Kenyan police after peacefully standing outside parliament. The three were among a handful of Kenyans hoping to grab the attention of Minister for Agriculture William Ruto and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to plead with them to act swiftly to prevent more deaths from starvation in the looming famine that is threatening 10 million Kenyans.

The minister of agriculture is facing a censure motion in parliament today for his role in the recent maize scandal where more than 1 million bags of maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) have disappeared. MP Dr Bonny Khalwale has moved the motion, accusing the agriculture minister of failing to give satisfactory answers over the disappearance.

The scandals come in the wake of a drought where 10 million Kenyans could be facing starvation. A number of people in the north-eastern province of Kenya have died as a direct consequence of the famine. Several Kenyans have been taking to the streets over the past two months to protest over the multiple scandals associated with Kenya's coalition government. George Nyongesa, an active spokesperson for justice in Kenya says, ‘We need the government to know that they have failed to treat hunger and starvation. Parliament and government of Kenya especially President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila must know that we the people are not going to allow those who have created hunger that will kill 10 million Kenyans to continue enjoying public office.’

Kenyan activist Philo Ikonya has been taking to the streets regularly in a bid to wake Kenyans into action for justice and drought victims. The three activists, Patrick Kamotho, Philo Ikonya and Fwamba Chrispus, have been beaten and are currently being held at the Central Police Station with no charges. Several other well known activists, including the former deputy of Transparency International and his wife Jayne Mati and several members of PEN International, have been outside the station for several hours waiting to hear the charges. The two were among 50 Kenyans arrested in December for wearing t-shirts demanding Kenyan MPs pay taxes and implement the Waki Report, which would ultimately see several politicians being brought to trial for their possible involvement in the ethnic-based murders during the post-election crisis in January 2008. Mati and his wife were retained for over 48 hours with no charges.

Though scattered, other protesters are still around the parliament buildings and the police are on the chase to arrest the rest of the group members. ‘Today's activity is a test drive of many other sporadic activities that we are mounting across the country through our networks. Our message shall target President Kibaki, Prime Minister [Raila] and anyone who is a beneficiary of their failed leadership’, says Nyongesa, spokesperson for Bunge La Mwananchi.
For more information contact:
- Dipesh Pabari – tel: 0733989082, email: [email protected].

Background information available at:
a. www.bulamwa.co.ke/
b. marsgroupkenya.org/partnershipforchange/
c. sukumakenya.blogspot.com/

STOP PRESS

Philo Ikonya was released at 11pm last night. Below is her immediate, visceral, unedited account, sent out at 3.30am, of her experiences.

Chrispus Fwamba and Patrick Kamotho were kept in police custody overnight.

All three were charged this morning at the Chief Magistrates Court with taking part in an unlawful assembly. The court released them on a cash bail of Ksh Ten Thousand each, which their colleagues are making arrangements to pay to facilitate their release. They will need legal and moral support as they face these charges and also require medical attention after assault by senior police officers while in custody.

If you would like to offer support, please contact:

Mwalimu Mati
[email][email protected]
www.marsgroupkenya.org
Phone: + 254-20-2132311/2
Cell: + 254-710-25-27-27

* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org/.