On Friday, the malicious damage charge initially filed against the group of human rights defenders who last week painted graffiti on a monument downtown Nairobi demanding that their government deliver on its promise to establish a truth, justice and reconciliation commission, was dropped. The incitement and illegal assembly charges, however, were referred to High Court for for a Constitutional reference. (19-OCT-04)
As on the first court hearing, the day after the demonstration and arrests, this second round, also in the Magistrate´s court, was once again jammed with activists sporting their impressive ´battle regalia,´ of T-shirts with political messages, reports Wanguthi Gitau from Nairobi. The Magistrate agreed that the human rights dfenders´ lawyers draft the questions to be posed to the high court.
The activists
The activists from the umbrella organisation Human Rights Network (HURINET) Kenya included the following: Steven Musau, Board Member of Release Political Prisoners (RPP); Waweru Kariuki, former political prisoner and torture survivor; Ndungi Githuku, member of RPP and former Vice Chairman of Mulika Communications; Anthony Mboyo, long standing activist; Gitahi Githuku, member of RPP; Njuguna Mutahi, Executive Director of People Against Torture (PAT); Mbugua Kaba, member of RPP and mobilizer at PAT; Martin Kiarie, Programme Officer at Kenya Human Rights Commission; Konow Sheikh Abdi, survivor of the Wagalla Massacre (the story of which soon to be told on these pages); and Atieno Victoria, UNICEF Child Protection Officer.
