NJAA Revolution 9th April 2022 Reflection.

Narrator: Debbie Wangeci
(WHRD, Kasarani Social Justice Center)

9th April 2022 was a highly anticipated day for Kasarani Social Justice Center as we were the host of  the NJAA Revolution which aim educating the masses about article 43 of our Constitution and collecting the reviews on the high cost of living. I arrived at the center some minutes to 10am and found fellow comrades excitedly penning their messages on Manila papers and cartons that would later serve as placards during the procession. I joined in the writing as we chatted and a few minutes later we were ready to start our procession. We decided to take Kamutini road as we headed to Mwiki but just before we got to Kamutini stage, we were prompted to stop as already some members of the community whom majority women were commonly referred to as “Mama Mboga” were already showing interest, support and even joining ursin singing. We had a stopover to address the group because why not? At the end of the day, the procession was about them, the people, taxpayers or “common mwananchi” as the elite political class like to refer to them. I can tell you for sure nothing beats the motivation you get when you see the masses relating to your message. That first stopover fuelled our zeal & lifted our spirits. All through the procession everything was okay until we got to Mwiki ACK Road. I remember i had stood somewhere along street one talking to a woman who had stopped to ask me if we needed the media. I told her it would be of great help. Some few minutes later, i noticed a police car slowly approaching from that same street. A comrade that had stood next to me (I can’t remember who) asked me “Ni sisi wanakujia ama wana pita tu” I answered “hawa ni kama wanapita” because why wouldn’t they use the main road & decided to use a feeder road if indeed they were coming for us?Today looking back in retrospect, I can tell their intention was to catch us unaware because they had anticipated we would cower and run as soon as we saw them. To their surprise, we gave them way and continued addressing the masses.Shortly after, two civilian clothes police stepped out of the car. One of them quickly approached.Comrade Ojango who was holding the megaphone & thus seemed like the leader of the procession. The police man tried to arrest Ojango but members of the community shouted at him to stop. Realising he had lost, he pulled out a tear gas cannister and threw at us. Luckily, the tear gas cannister failed to burst.

Realising things were about to get messy, I quickly took my phone and snapped the number plate of the police vehicle not realising behind me was another plain clothed police. He asked me “Mkona barua ya OCS?” I answered “yes” and he asked me again “mko sure, because I am calling the OCS to confirm” i answered another firm “yes” By this time, the “tear gas officer” had retreated and the procession had began taking shape again. As we approached the far end of ACK Road, i noticed a group of police officers following us. They had guns, tear gas cannisters, run gus and a car behind them.I spotted one of them walking by himself and thought it would be a good chance to negotiate as it’s so difficult to talk to them when they area group. I approached him & asked him”why do you want to arrest peaceful protesters, your are going to cause chaos” he answered ‘Madam usinishike” and pointed the green pipe he was carrying at me. To behonest ,I didn’t even know i had touched him but obviously the intention was and make his stop as he was moving so
quickly trying to catchup with his colleagues. We were interrupted by screams and he run towards where the screams were coming from. I also knew something was wrong as I could recognize the scream. It was the voice and screams of comrade Minoo. After the brutal, in human and dehumanising arrest of our fellow comrades, we had no option but to end the procession. The rogue police had violently managed to disperse a peaceful procession. Shame! From that moment on, our phones wouldn’t stop ringing. Everybody was trying to find somebody, we were all confused, it was terrifying especially bearing in mind most of the comrades were new to the area. Have they been arrested? Are they safe? What if they can’t trace back the route we took from the center & got lost? We all had questions nobody could answer. We decided the best place to retreat to was back at our office center. Most of us managed to get back at the center and we immediately embarked on documenting who was arrested and who was not.We then had to find out where the police had taken the arrestees.

I was part of the team delegated to visit every police station in Kasarani to find out where our comrades were heldled by Comrade Gitahi. We were about six of us. We went to Sunton police and after failing to find them, we went to Kasarani police station and the Deputy OCS directed us to Mwiki police station. From the look of things, there was already a prior discussion about the issue between the two police stations because as soon as we said our comrades were arrested at a procession, The Deputy OCS Kasarani was quick to respond “oooh, hao watatu? Wako huko Mwiki” How did he know they were three? In addition, we had spotted the police vehicle that had been used during the arrest of our comrades (GKB417Y) Entering Kasarani police station on our way there but this time it was empty. On our way to Mwiki Police, Comrade Gitahi and other 2 comrades had errands to run at Njiru and so we parted ways and we were left with comrade Kepha, Mary Ann and myself.On arrival at Mwiki Police station, I remember stepping into the reception area & the first thing I saw was comrade Edwin talking to one of the cellmate. From where I stood, it was possible to see the cell area. Excited that finally we have found them, i said “Ndio yule Edu, so wako huku”…and that is when
hell broke loose! I was met with “Msichana ukona kiherehere, unafikiri hapa nikwako”one of the police woman said. Another one picked it up from there”kwani ni huwezi kuwa kama huyu, ameingia kama
amenyamaza” pointing at Comrade MaryAnn. She then continued “Unajua tunaweza sema uto kenje”At this point, I was beginning to lose my cool and so I answered “sema” Her female colleague picked it up “huyu akona kiherehere sana atokenje” pointing at the door. Out of nowhere, The OCS Mwiki joined in shouting’ Toka! Toka! na nisikuone hapa'” following me behind as I went outside. I stood close to the door as I didn’t want to leave comrade MaryAnn and Kepha by themselves. He then came and continued,”sio hapa enda ukasmame huko mbali najua unataka kurecord” The moment he mentioned” kurecord” he actually reminded me I should be recording…and so i removed my phone from my pocket and took a picture of him as he watched.He shouted “Officer,leta huyu hapa ananipigapicha” A male police was passing by and he stopped to follow the order. He came and held my arm saying “Tusisumbuane, pita hivi” Almost immediately, Comrade Kinuthia, Bryan and other comrades arrived at the station and got caught up in my arrest drama.

All I heard was, ”Ndio hao wengine, Shika wote!” The OCS ordered. We were hurriedly took inside the station, I don’t even know where more police officers came from, but you would be forgiven to think we were highly dangerous terrorist getting arrested. Luckily none of us was brutalised during that arrest. All we got wecre abuse and pointless questions like “nani amewatuma” ,”kwani ni vijana mnakubali kutumika na wanasiasa” etc Upon entering the station, comrades were handed back their phones in order to make a phone call. This of course doesn’t happen often but i guess they had to because of the presence of Comrade Waringa who had told them she was our lawyer. As others got handed their phones, the Female police officer was about to give me back my phone but the OCS interrupted and said “huyo usimpatie, leta hiyo simu, huyu ndio amenipiga picha” and he took my phone and went outside. For some minute sall we could see were police walking in & out, the OCS receiving numerous phone call s and Comrade Waringa passionately trying to enquire why we were arrested but all she could receive was a rude “Tukutane Kortini”
from the OCS I got lost in thoughts. It was better  than listening to insults hurled at us by the officers. The OCS then came back to the where we were, and there was a heated argument between me and him. I honestly can’t remember any of the things I said as it was a moment of anger but it must have been serious because one of the comrades was pulling me behind as a signal of wanting me to stop. The OCS then handed over my phone to one female officer and went outside. TheOfficer finally gave me back my phone.