Lobbyists threaten mass action over insecurity by staging street protests over increased insecurity on June 19

Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) chairman Khelef Khalifa (centre) flanked by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Coast region coordinator Hassan Abdilla (right) and Ujamaa Centre Executive Director Patrick Ochieng (left) during a press briefing in Mombasa yesterday. Photo/NDEGWA GATHUNGU

The People June 14, 2014By ATIENO AKUMU

Civil society groups in Mombasa have supported calls for mass action called by Cordleader Raila Odinga. The organisations asked the Jubilee government to engage in national dialogue with the Opposition leaders to find lasting solutions to problems facing Kenyans. The more than 25 civil society groups, who addressed the media in Mombasa yesterday described national dialogue as the only way of addressing the escalating insecurity in the country.

They announced plans to hold street protests over increased insecurity on June 19. Led by Kenya Community Support Centre (Kecosce) Executive Director Phyllis Mwema, they said the security situation has deteriorated such that it is difficult to distinguish between genuine acts of terror and ordinary crime.

“Whereas the government would like to make us believe that the deteriorating security situation is a result of terrorism, there is not an inkling of evidence that it can put to table to back that claim,” said Mwema. However, the groups said they had no link with Cord. According to Mwema, the alleged war on terror is worsening the insecurity situation and as a result leading to massive violation of human rights.

“Random police swoops which have become a routine have been characterised by harassment, brutalisation, humiliation, extortion and disappearance of persons while in police custody,” she said. Mwema urged the government to pull out its soldiers from Somalia claiming that their presence in the war torn country is creating insecurity scare in the country. “We urge the government to admit and own up that this crisis is a direct result of the two front war that is waging at home and in Somalia,” noted Mwema.

Meanwhile Ujamaa Centre CEO Patrick Ochieng has rubbished allegations that civil societies in the region are pushing for the agenda of the Opposition after the recent visit by Cord leader and former premier Raila Odinga. He said that the fact that the opposition has called for dialogue coincidentally at almost the same time they are pushing for it is a good thing for Kenyans.