A team from the Young Lawyers Caucus has stepped in to defend at least 20
suspects arrested in Kirinyaga on Wednesday.
The suspects were detained in connection with protests held to mark the
one-year anniversary of the deaths of more than 60 people during last year’s
demonstrations.
Led by Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri
Maina, who chairs the caucus, the lawyers vowed to stand with the accused in
their pursuit of justice.
“I am exercising my duty as an advocate and
representing Gen Zs who were arrested across Kirinyaga during the protests,”
said MP Njeri.
“We shall defend the people; we shall stand by the people.”
Njeri said the arrested individuals were
exercising their constitutional right to protest.
Also present in court were Senator Kamau Murango
and David Mathenge Baragwi, who showed solidarity with the suspects.
The group is facing charges related to unlawful
assembly and participation in illegal protests.
The arrests came on a day of nationwide
demonstrations, some of which turned violent.
In neighboring Nyeri County, 20 police
officers were injured during protests.
According to a police report filed at Karatina
Police Station, the unrest began around 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday.
Youths had barricaded the Karatina–Nairobi Highway near the Total petrol
station, lit bonfires, and pelted motorists with stones while allegedly
extorting money from drivers.
Police from several units—including Mathira
East and West, DCI, APS, and trainees from Kiganjo Police College—were deployed
to restore order.
The crowd grew larger and more hostile,
chanting slogans, blowing vuvuzelas, and resisting police efforts.
By 11:00 a.m., the group began throwing stones
at officers and tried to storm the residence of MP Eric Wamumbi in Kamunyaka
but were repulsed.
“They
also broke into the DCC Mathira East compound, shattered windows at the
sub-county education office, and looted the APS canteen,” read part of the
police report.
“They were stopped as they attempted to set the Karatina Law Courts on
fire.”
