On 6 August 1996, twenty one jailed members of the Release Political Prisoners (RPP) advocacy group were released on bail. Govedi Astusta, a photographer from Kenya’s leading daily “The Nation” who was covering the release, was arrested by prison guards and his camera was confiscated. The photographer was arrested while attempting to capture pictures of […]
On 6 August 1996, twenty one jailed members of the Release
Political Prisoners (RPP) advocacy group were released on bail.
Govedi Astusta, a photographer from Kenya’s leading daily “The
Nation” who was covering the release, was arrested by prison
guards and his camera was confiscated. The photographer was
arrested while attempting to capture pictures of the 21 RPP
members after their release. Prison wardens accused him of taking
pictures in a “protected area.” He was released the same day,
after being briefly locked up in a room next to the main gate,
while some officers proceeded to another office to expose the
film.
The twenty one RPP members were granted a Sh20,000 (US$ 350) bail
each by a Kibera court on 6 August. The Deputy Public Prosecutor,
Benard Chunga, told the court the defence and the prosecution had
agreed that the state should not oppose bail for the RPP members.
However, the prosecutor said that if the members were released on
bail, they should not interfere with witnesses. He also said the
group should not resume meetings at Ufangamano House, in Nairobi,
where they were arrested.
The group is accused of holding an illegal meeting on 19 July, and
of inciting Nairobi University students to violence. They were
also charged with issuing a publication to University of Nairobi
students titled “Jarida la Release Political Prisoners”. The court
heard that the publication bore words indicating that it was
desirable to disobey the government. The twenty one RPP members
denied holding a public meeting without a licence.
Their case will be heard on 19 August.
