The East African Standard | Online Edition

East African Standard - Online Edition

Home
National
Provincial
Business
Africa
Sports
Commentaries
Editorial
Cartoon
Letters
Horoscopes

Big Issue | Financial Standard | Maddo | Pulse | Style | Society
  Monday, July 5, 2004

    

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 Kenya’s 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.



News Headlines | Home Page

Copyright © 2004 . The Standard Ltd


The Standard Ltd
I & M Building, Kenyatta Avenue,
P.O Box 30080, 00100 GPO, Nairobi-Kenya.

Tel. +254 20 3222111, Fax: +254 20 214467, 229218, 218965. News room: +254 20 3222111, Fax: +254 20 213108.
Email:
editorial@eastandard.net, online@eastandard.net, Advertising: standard.ads@swiftkenya.com