Mombasa human rights activist Bradley Ouna was questioned for six hours on Saturday by the DCI about protests planned for Monday, known as Saba Saba protests.
Ouna, who studied law, was accused of planning violence during these protests, but he denied the claims.
He had sent a letter to the police to inform them about the peaceful protests on Monday. While violence happened in other parts of the country on June 25, Mombasa remained mostly calm.
The police denied the request for protests, saying they had security concerns, which could lead to conflicts between police and protesters.
In his letter to the Central police station, Ouna wrote, “We are writing to formally inform you of our intention to hold a peaceful procession and public concert on July 7, 2025, Monday, in Mombasa County to remember Saba Saba Day.”
He explained that the procession would start at 8 am and end at 5 pm, with people marching from the Saba Saba area to Mwembe Tayari, then to Fontanella, and finishing with a concert at Uhuru Gardens.
Police officer Sylvester Wambua at Central Police Station replied that he could not allow the protests for safety reasons. He mentioned that there were warnings about people intending to cause trouble during the protests.
Saba Saba Day is important in Kenya, as it marks the date in 1990 when many people protested for free elections. The leaders who called for those protests, Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia, were arrested but became symbols of democracy.
After being questioned, Ouna compared himself to Kenneth Matiba, saying he was being targeted for wanting a better Kenya.
He was told to return to the police on Monday at 11 am. Ouna said he received a call from a DCI officer named Ogutu on Friday, asking him to come to the police headquarters.
With the support of lawyers and fellow activists, he said he was accused of encouraging young people in Mombasa through his social media posts.
“They told me that I always call for protests and that I promise to help youth if they get arrested,” Ouna explained. He said they warned him to be less radical in his language online.
Ouna, a graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam, admitted he organises protests but insists they have always been peaceful. He stated that the recent protests on June 25 were calm, and the police had even praised them for being orderly.
His lawyer, Zedekiah Adika, defended Ouna, saying he is not planning any violence. Adika explained that if Ouna wanted to stir trouble, he wouldn’t openly inform the police about the protest plans.
Veteran human rights activist Khelef Khalifa criticised the police, claiming they are trying to intimidate activists because they are afraid people are becoming more aware and fighting for their rights.
He believes if the police have information about people planning chaos, they should arrest those individuals instead.
Khalifa suggested that people in different areas, like Kisauni, Changamwe, and Likoni, should protest in their own neighbourhoods to send a strong message.
He added that human rights activists will take legal action against anyone, including police, who causes trouble on Monday.
