Embakasi East Member of Parliament Hon. Babu Owino has vowed to mount a robust legal defense for more than 200 protesters arrested on Thursday during demonstrations marking the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024, Gen Z protests.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino greets officers at Central Police Station upon arrival to see detained protesters. Photo: Babu Owino/Facebook.
Speaking outside Central Police Station in Nairobi after visiting the detainees, the lawyer and legislator described the arrests as unjustified, arguing that the protesters had merely exercised their constitutional rights by demanding better governance, employment opportunities, and a lower cost of living.
According to Owino, the detained individuals had gathered to commemorate fellow protesters who lost their lives during the historic anti-government demonstrations of June 2024.
“There are over 200 suspects here, and these people are innocent. The only offence they have committed is going to the streets to fight for their rights, to ensure they have jobs, to ensure there is no high cost of living, and to commemorate the comrades we lost in June 2024,” Owino said.
The Embakasi East lawmaker questioned the basis of the arrests, claiming that authorities had yet to formally communicate the charges facing the detainees.
“We do not know the charges they intend to bring against them, but whatever charges they present, we shall meet them in court tomorrow,” he stated.
The MP expressed confidence that the arrested protesters would secure their freedom through the judicial process, emphasizing that the courts—not the police—would ultimately determine their fate.
Owino urged Kenyans not to be intimidated by law enforcement agencies, arguing that the role of the police effectively ends once suspects are presented before a court of law.
“Once an arrest is made, the matter shifts to the Judiciary. In court, everyone is equal before the law, and police officers will appear just like any other Kenyan citizen,” he said.
The lawmaker further disclosed that a team of advocates was being assembled to represent the detainees during their court appearances.
“We will organize ourselves with many lawyers to ensure that justice is served. Our comrades who are being held here today will be free,” he added.
Accompanied by lawyers James and Ndegwa, as well as activist Sheikh, Hon. Babu Owino also brought several crates of bread and packets of milk to Central Police Station for the detained protesters.
The gesture reflected a strong sense of compassion and solidarity with the young demonstrators, many of whom were expected to spend the night in police custody. By providing food and other basic necessities, the Embakasi East MP sought to offer comfort, reassurance, and practical support to the detainees during their time in custody.
The arrests occurred amid nationwide demonstrations commemorating the June 25, 2024, Gen Z protests, a defining moment in Kenya’s recent political history that saw thousands of young people take to the streets to oppose controversial government policies and demand greater accountability from public institutions.
The developments are expected to set the stage for a legal battle in court, as lawyers representing the protesters seek their release while challenging the legality of the arrests.
