Egerton University student Ezer Kipkurui has been arrested for creating disturbance when he took photos of Huduma Center in Nakuru town.
A police officer arrested him when he was taking the photo using his phone. Ezer was with his girlfriend at the time and he wanted to share online how the queue at the center was long. The police officer who was manning the center took issue with him photographing the General Post Office building along the busy Kenyatta Avenue.
Nakuru blogger arrested allegedly for
taking pictures in the street near Huduma
Centre…. #ReleaseEzerKipkurui— Streets of Nakuru (@StreetNakuru) March 7, 2016
Photography a crime? Every day,someone is arrested for photography, an expression of free speech. @MsingiSasis @Kipezer #ReleaseEzerKipkurui
— Maskani Ya Taifa (@Maskani254) March 7, 2016
The Officer Commanding the Nakuru’s Central Police Station Mr. Omollo has declined to have him released on bail stating that the offence is serious and he will sleep in the cell before being presented in court tomorrow.
Nakuru County Commander Hassan Mwabumba said he cannot comment on the issue because he was unaware of the arrest.
Huduma Centers are not gazetted protected areas under the Protected Areas Act.
Since when is somewhere not gazetted become a no photography area, are people starting to create their own laws? #ReleaseEzerKipkurui
— Julius (@Jullo_lio) March 7, 2016
Dennis Itumbi, the Director of Digital Commissions at State House took to Twitter to affirm that Ezer Kipkurui should be released.
Yes, the facts of the matter are that he should be set free #ReleaseEzerKipkurui
— Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) March 7, 2016
Ezer’s phone has been confiscated by the police to aid in investigations.
[…] had been arrested, first for resisting arrest and later for taking photos of Huduma Center at GPO, Kenyatta Avenue, […]
[…] had been arrested, first for resisting arrest and later for taking photos of Huduma Center at GPO, Kenyatta Avenue, […]