Front Line is concerned by the reported arbitrary detention of over 60 civil society activists and journalists in Kenya who were taking part in a peaceful demonstration on the occasion of Kenya's Jamhuri Day celebrations on 12 December 2008. Activists who arrived outside the Nyayo National stadium in Nairobi wearing t-shirts condemning the failure of MPs to pay taxes were reportedly targeted for detention. The majority of those detained were released without charge.

Mr Mwalimu Mati, Chief Executive of Mars Group Kenya (marsgroupkenya.org), and his wife, Jane Mati, remained in detention for two nights. An investigation against them on the grounds of “incitement to violence” is currently pending. Mars Group Kenya describes itself as a leadership, governance, accountability and media watchdog organization whose "goal is to create awareness and to generate an effective demand, by Kenyans, for accountability from Kenya’s leadership and to encourage Kenyans to hold to account those who have committed improprieties."

Further Information

The Media Council of Kenya condemned the arrests and said they "come only a day after the passing of the draconian media bill," which provides for heavy fines and prison sentences for press offences, confirming its worst fears that there were people in the government determined to intimidate the media into silence.

Front Line believes that the aforementioned civil society members and journalists were arrested as a result of their legitimate work in defence of human rights, in particular the exercise of the right to freedom of expression.