Mudavadi says rally ban undemocratic
By Peter Atsiaya
Former Vice President Musalia Mudavadi has condemned the
terror unleashed on the pro-Katiba Watch rally demonstrators by police in Nairobi on
Saturday.
Mudavadi said police brutality against innocent Kenyans who
were expressing their anger over failure by the government to deliver a new Constitution,
was unwarranted.
He said the ugly confrontation between anti-riot police and
the peaceful demonstrators soiled Kenyas image in international circles.
"Police brutality against demonstrators protesting the
outlawing of the Uhuru Park rally is a clear sign of a dictatorial government,"
Mudavadi said in a telephone interview.
The former Sabatia MP said the action of the police was a
breach of the freedom of expression and association. He said the government was to blame
for the chaos that rocked Nairobi and parts of Kisumu.
Mudavadi said the government messed up by outlawing the
much-publicised Uhuru Park rally to drum up support for the adoption of the Bomas Draft
Constitution.
The former V-P said the government should have allowed the
Martin Shikuku-led Katiba Watch lobby and their supporters to proceed with the rally to
discuss the way forward for a new Constitution.
He said that majority of Kenyans wanted a new Constitution
and the government should not shift the goalposts on the issue.
Mudavadi said the government should deliver a new
Constitution to Kenyans as promised or face the wrath of its citizens.
He expressed fear that Kenya will be plunged into more
chaos over the Constitution if the government does implement the Bomas Draft. |