A youth petition to the Mombasa County Assembly turned chaotic , with activists accusing the Assembly leadership of unleashing goons on demonstrators, while the Assembly blamed the group for disrupting House business and blocking access to its premises.
Walid Sketty, Coast Regional Coordinator for Vocal Africa, said the activists had gone to the Assembly peacefully to push for enactment of the Youth Policy Bill in the county.
Sketty alleged that the situation turned violent after Speaker Aharub Ebrahim Khatri arrived at the premises, claiming the Speaker deployed his bodyguards and about 10 hired goons armed with clubs to confront the youths.
He alleged that one demonstrator sustained a broken arm during the confrontation and claimed the incident happened in the presence of cameras and Assembly sergeants-at-arms, who he said failed to intervene.
“Our only mistake was coming here to ask for the Youth Policy Bill. We were having a good dialogue with a leader from Likoni, but when the Speaker arrived, he disrupted our peaceful meeting,” Sketty said.
He vowed to lead fresh protests and called for the arrest of the Speaker over the alleged violence.
A journalist covering the incident was also caught up in the melee.
Omar Ahmed Omar, a communications officer with Vocal Africa who was filming the proceedings, said he was assaulted and his phone and microphone were taken by the attackers.
He also accused police officers at the scene of failing to protect civilians, claiming they instead chased members of the public away from the Assembly gate.
However, the Mombasa County Assembly disputed the activists’ account, describing their conduct as disorderly and unlawful.
In a statement, the Assembly said the group arrived at the premises accompanied by masked individuals before blocking access to the building, disrupting traffic and interfering with House business.
The Assembly acknowledged the constitutional right of Kenyans to peacefully petition public institutions, but said such rights must be exercised within the law and with consideration for the safety of other members of the public.
It said it was concerned that the group, while objecting to arrangements limiting the number of people allowed into the premises, resorted to confrontation and violence.
The Assembly said its security personnel, together with other relevant agencies, would remain vigilant to protect members, staff and visitors from insecurity, intimidation and unlawful disruption.
It urged members of the public and civil society organisations to use established channels for petitions and public participation.
“The County Assembly remains committed to constitutionalism, public participation, peaceful engagement and the protection of democratic institutions, while firmly rejecting violence, intimidation and unlawful conduct in or around its premises,” Assembly Clerk Salim Juma said.
By Ramadhan Nassib
