Treason charges reignite unrest in Kenya
A Kenyan opposition politician was charged with treason on Tuesday over the symbolic presidential “swearing-in” of opposition leader Raila Odinga.
The news reignited street unrest and one person was killed in demonstrations in the west — the heartland of support for Odinga, who maintains he was the rightful winner of elections that returned President Uhuru Kenyatta to power.
Two opposition MPs present at the “swearing-in” one week ago were arrested and later released.
Campaigning lawyer Miguna Miguna was arrested on Friday in a dawn raid on his home. He was granted bail of 50,000 Kenyan shillings ($500) but has remained in police custody with his whereabouts unknown until he appeared in court in Kajiado County near Nairobi on Tuesday to hear the charges.
He was charged with “being present and consenting to the administration of an oath to commit a capital offence, namely treason”, the charge sheet recorded. Miguna refused to enter a plea, saying his case should be heard in a court in Nairobi, privately owned Citizen Television reported.
The Kenyan lawyers’ association said Miguna was being denied fair process.
“Once again the state is wilfully violating Mr Miguna’s rights by moving him without any notice to his lawyers or his family and, in order to frustrate their access to him, to a court stationed outside Nairobi,” Isaac Okero, president of the Law Society of Kenya, told reporters.
Odinga supporters demonstrating against the charges, blocked roads and clashed with police in the western city of Kisumu, a Reuters witness said.
Witness Carlos Ouma said a county revenue collector had been killed by a stray bullet after police fired into the air to disperse demonstrators in nearby Ahero, Miguna’s hometown.
Odinga ran against Kenyatta in an election in August 2017, which was nullified by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds. Kenyatta won a repeat poll in October after Odinga boycotted it, claiming it would not be fair.
Three privately owned television stations were shut down last week as they began to cover the “swearing-in”.