Azimio la Umoja Co-Principal, Martha Karua has urged the state to dismiss the case against 22 Kikuyu elders recently arrested on charges of urging violence.
The dispute began when authorities detained members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders for allegedly making provoking remarks at a public gathering in the Mount Kenya region.
The elders were accused of targeting political leaders and urged violence ahead of the upcoming kikuyu election in their region.
However, they claim to have been misread and claimed that they were simply exercising their constitutional right to free speech.
In a press statement, Karua underscored the need to uphold the rights of all citizens, irrespective of their political leanings.
“The arrest and prosecution of these elders are a clear violation of their rights and an abuse of power by the state,” Karua declared.
“We cannot allow such flagrant disregard for the rule of law to go unchecked. The authorities must immediately drop the charges against them,” she added.
READ ALSO: Karua, Kalonzo clash over ‘Kamwene’ group
Karua’s intervention sparked a heated debate among politicians and civil society groups.
Some support her call for dismissing the case, while others argue that the elders should be held accountable.
However, many have praised her courage in speaking out against what they see as an unjust persecution of innocent citizens.
As the case continues to unfold, all eyes are on the state as it weighs its response to Karua’s impassioned plea.
READ ALSO: Drama as Kikuyu elders sing Mau Mau songs in Murang’a Law Court
