On Thursday 13 January 2000, Berhanu Liyew, one of a dozen or so Ethiopian journalists in Nairobi receiving support from NDIMA, was arrested by police at the office of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Liyew was taken to Kileleshwa Police Station where he was locked up. On Friday 14 January, Sam Mbure, NDIMA’s programme […]
On Thursday 13 January 2000, Berhanu Liyew, one of a dozen or so Ethiopian journalists in Nairobi receiving support from NDIMA, was arrested by police at the office of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Liyew was taken to Kileleshwa Police Station where he was locked up. On Friday 14 January, Sam Mbure, NDIMA’s programme director, went to the police station accompanied by two of Liyew’s colleagues to enquire why he was being held. At the information desk, they were informed that Liyew had been charged with being in Kenya illegally and failing to produce identification papers. They were informed that the journalist had been taken to court.
On Saturday 15 January, Mbure and two other of Liyewâs colleagues went back to Kileleshwa Police Station and were then told that Liyew was not being held there. They were advised to check with prison authorities at the Nairobi Industrial Area Prison whether he was being held there after his court appearance.
Liyew had gone to the IOM for orientation as he was preparing to migrate to Canada soon.
