A group of activists from Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi caused a stir on Monday when they climbed over the fence at Milimani Law Courts after being blocked from attending the hearing of three fellow activists who were arrested after the June 25 protests.
In a video making rounds on social media, the activists were seen scaling the sharp fence while singing a version of the gospel song “Amenitendea,” but replacing the lyrics with “wametuzoea,” which loosely translates to “they’ve gotten used to mistreating us.” This act was part of their protest against being denied entry into the court premises, where they had gathered to show support for the arrested individuals.
In a post that accompanied the video, the group stated they were standing in full solidarity with their comrades. According to them, the three had been wrongly arrested for simply exercising their constitutional right to protest peacefully.
They condemned the move to block them from entering the courtroom and said it was part of efforts to silence civic voices. They insisted that the court doors may be locked, but they would not stop fighting for justice. They demanded accountability and the immediate release of the detained individuals.
Later on, the activists said that the three had not yet been brought to court even though the hearing was supposed to start at 9am. Advocate John Khaminwa informed them that no official statements had been recorded from the three either.
Soon after, the group learned that the hearing had been shifted to Kibera Law Courts. Despite this sudden change, the activists made their way to Kibera to continue following the case.
They also shared photos of their presence outside the new location.The Directorate of Criminal Investigations had earlier announced that the three were arrested on June 28 while traveling on a bus to Mombasa.
The DCI claimed the trio had used social media to incite violence and looting during the protests. However, human rights organisations quickly responded, strongly defending the three activists.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission said the charges were baseless and meant to distort the truth. They described the accused as respected human rights defenders who have used music and art in their campaigns for justice.
According to KHRC, the three are known for their solidarity with oppressed communities and have always supported peaceful movements. If taken to court, the DCI said they could face charges including malicious damage to property, arson, stealing, incitement to violence and encouraging disobedience of the law.
