President William Ruto’s government has apologised for declaring an innocent citizen wanted on assumption that his photo in the parliament was taken during the protest.
On Wednesday, the Kenyan authorities, the police and Directorate of Criminal Investigation declared wanted some protesters, accusing them of unlawful activities during the protests.
Dennis Basweti’s photo was number seven on the list of those declared wanted. However, the DCI later on Wednesday apologised for declaring him wanted based on a photo he took earlier on June 10, 2024, posted on social media.
“As manhunt for wanted suspects involved in criminal activities during the anti-finance bill 2024 protests continues, the DCI wishes to exonerate Mr Dennis Basweti whose photo was listed among the wanted persons,” the DCI said in a tweet.
Apologising for wrongfully declaring Mr Basweti wanted, the DCI admitted that it took the decision based on his old photo taken in the parliament because it was assumed that he was among protesters who stormed the parliament last week Tuesday.
“Earlier today, Mr Basweti surrendered himself at Kenyenya DCI offices and recorded a statement indicating that his circulated photos as having occupied parliament during the protests period had been taken earlier on June 10, 2024, where he had visited upon the invitation of his MP Hon. Silvanus Osoro,” the DCI said.
It added “The DCI has since confirmed that Mr Dennis Basweti’s narrative is true, and has reached out to him with an apology, further commending him for believing in the DCI’s pledge to conduct investigations thoroughly and fairly.”
In response to the DCI’s announcement, some Kenyans on X berated the police for ignoring its men firing live bullets on protesters and goons hired to disrupt the protests.
@Adele_lide said, “If you made a mistake parading his face, how sure are we that the rest of the suspects are a case of mistaken identity?”
“So how did his picture end up being on this list? Was this list even vetted or it was hurriedly put together to align with the political talking points of the government, calling peaceful demonstrators as “criminals”? We would appreciate it if you guys did your job and arrested the police officers who killed innocent demonstrators,” @AnuarSaddat.
Tuesday made it three weeks that Kenyan youths hit the streets, disrupting commercial activities across the country in protest against the Finance Bill imposing a tax on some commodities.
Last Wednesday, President William Ruto withdrew the bill after the protests turned bloody as police fired live bullets at protesters.
However, Mr Ruto did not placate the angry demonstrators, who doubled down on the protests and called for his resignation.
On Tuesday, hundreds of youth carrying coffins shut down Nairobi in the # RutoMustGo protest, defying police clampdown. Protests were also held in Mombasa, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori-Rongo, and other parts of the country.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported that 39 people were killed as police clamped down on protesters between June 18 and July 1.
The commission added that 361 persons were injured, and 32 cases of enforced disappearances recorded since anti-finance bill protests broke out in the country on June 18.
The commission’s number of casualties contradicted Mr Ruto’s. In an interview on Sunday, he said that 19 were killed during the protests.
