• Sifuna said pronouncements by a section of politicians allied to the government that a 'final solution' should be instituted against Azimio protesters are dangerous
• The senator made reference to the 'Final Solution to the Jewish Question" used in Germany by the Nazis in the final stage of the Holocaust between 1941 and 1945.
Image: FILE
Senator Edwin Sifuna has challenged the government to engage the Opposition in discussions over the issues they are raising or desist from using the police to interfere with their mass action.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Sifuna said pronouncements by a section of politicians allied to the government that a 'final solution' should be instituted against Azimio protesters is a dangerous undertaking that should not be permitted to see the light of day.
"We have heard some very dangerous pronouncements from some of our colleagues in the political circles talking about final solutions to certain people who they consider to be problems," Sifuna said.
The senator made reference to the 'Final Solution to the Jewish Question" used in Germany by the Nazis in the final stage of the Holocaust between 1941 and 1945.
It referred to the deliberate and systematic mass murder of European Jews whose application eventually resulted in the vast majority of Jewish murders during the Holocaust.
"We shouldn't be using such language," Sifuna cautioned.
"By the time you are resorting to violence, it means you have lost the argument. Engage us in robust debate the way we are doing here.
"If you are unable to engage us, please remove the police so that we can deal with you straight, mundu khu mundu (face-to-face)," he said.
Azimio on Tuesday accused the police of using excessive use to control what they said were peaceful demonstrations on Monday.
They said police were deliberately instigating violence by hurling teargas at peaceful demonstrators that posed no danger to life or property.
Sifuna and several Azimio MPs including Babu Owino (Embakasi) and Junet Mohamed (Suna East) were teargassed as they walked near City Hall.
Three of their colleagues were also arrested but later released on police bond after being held for hours at the Kiambu Police Station.
They included Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Kilifi South MP Richard Chonga and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi.
"We are seeing the country regressing in the dark old days of dictatorship, suppression of free speech, suppression of free thought and everything that you can think of," Wandayi said after being released.
"Regardless of how many times you arrest people or leaders, the issues being raised out there will continue to be raised and it doesn't matter what kind of force or intimidation is applied," he added.
On Tuesday, Azimio leader Raila Odinga called for the release of their supporters who were arrested during Monday's mass protests.
Raila further claimed that there was an attempt on his life and that of Azimio co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka after their cars were shot at.
"Their cars were shot at but luckily, they were unharmed. We remain horrified and disgusted by the response of the police," he said.
Raila expressed disappointment that at a time the country is dealing with banditry, a huge contingent of police officers was deployed to peaceful demonstrations.