Kenya: Update to KEN25477.E of 26 November 1996 on the organization called Release Political Prisoners; current status; size of membership; names of officers; whether its members are being targetted by the state
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 23 August 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KEN39379.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kenya: Update to KEN25477.E of 26 November 1996 on the organization called Release Political Prisoners; current status; size of membership; names of officers; whether its members are being targetted by the state, 23 August 2002, KEN39379.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4db8e.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) website, the Release Political Prisoners (RPP) pressure group is provided "legal hosting" by the KHRC along with four other nongovernmental organizations that have been denied registration by the Kenyan government (KHRC n.d.). Although the RPP is considered a project of the KHRC, it operates as an autonomous organization (ibid.).
Only one 2002 report on the RPP was found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate. This report states that the RPP will continue to publish its free monthly newsletter, Mtetezi ("The Advocate", in Kiswahili), even if it cannot comply with the new Media Bill that increases the security bonds paid by printers and publishers from $134 to $13,334 (Inter Press Service 17 May 2002). The new Bill is "widely regarded as muzzling the press and freedom of expression" since most small publications do not have the budgets to afford such an increase (ibid.). Caleb Muchungu of RPP is quoted as saying "[i]f necessary we shall defy the law" (ibid.). The Mtetezi has a print run of 2,000 copies (ibid.).
Although no information on the total number of RPP members could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, on 25 October 2001, IRIN reported that 70 members and supporters of RPP were being held in custody, charged with holding an illegal gathering. According to the report, RPP supporters were arrested at their Nairobi offices while celebrating Kenyatta Day, a national holiday in recognition of Kenya's first president (IRIN 25 Oct. 2001). Amnesty International (AI) expressed concern for the safety of those arrested whom it believes "may be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for their non-violent political beliefs" (ibid.). AI also stated that the police used "excessive force" including the use of tear gas and physical violence to disperse the gathering (ibid.).
Two years earlier, in November 1999, Amnesty International wrote a letter to Police Commissioner Philemon Abong'o to protest the harrassment of RPP members (The Nation 17 Nov. 1999). The letter also stated that this was "not the first time that the RPP has been targeted by authorities while carrying out peaceful, legitimate activities" (ibid.).
Although a list of current RPP officers could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, an article by the Indian Ocean Newsletter dated 27 January 2001 mentions that Muthoni Kamau is the president of the RPP. In addition, an article by The Nation dated 12 March 2000 mentions that Tirop arap Kitur is the secretary-general of the RPP and that the late Karimi Nduthu was a former RPP secretary-general who was "murdered by people suspected to have a link with the government".
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. 27 January 2001. "The Ufungamano Radicalization." (NEXIS)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN). 25 October 2001. "Kenya: Amnesty Concern at Detention of Rights Activists." (Africa News/NEXIS)
Inter Press Service. 17 May 2002. Katy Salmon. "Media-Kenya: Rights Groups Vow to Defend Freedom of Expression." (NEXIS)
Kenya Human Rights Commission. "Who We Are" n.d. The Nation [Nairobi]. 12 March 2000. Stephen Mburu. "Kenya; How We Tried to Overthrow Moi." (Africa News/NEXIS)
_____. 17 November 1999. "Kenya; Amnesty International Protests." (Africa News/NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
NEXIS
Internet sites including:
Africa Online
AllAfrica.com
Amnesty International (AI)
BBC Africa
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
IRIN
World News.com
World News Connection (WNC)
Unsuccessful attempts to reach the Kenya Human Rights Commission and another oral source.
Search engines including:
Google