Four Kakamega teachers allied to KUPPET who were arrested and held in police cells have been released after sustained pressure from colleagues and their lawyer Ken Echesa.
The lawyer secured the release of the teachers late this evening, but details of the conditions set remain unclear.
Earlier in the day, Wilbroda Shinanda, the Women Representative, was also arrested while visiting the detained officials, bringing the number of the detainees to four.
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, three officials of the union were arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) late Thursday afternoon.
The arrests followed a complaint lodged by the principal of St Monica Lubao School, prompting authorities to conduct a manhunt for the officials, including Executive Secretary Harrison Otota and colleagues Damaris Kisiang’ani the Vice Treasurer and Livanze Mwani.
Lawyer Ken Echesa, who was present alongside the group of teachers during the arrests, had provided insights into the situation.
“From a legal perspective, it is strenuous to argue with police officers,” he had said, arguing that rather than seeking cash bail, the arrested officials opted to remain in custody until today morning as a symbolic gesture of their fight for educators’ rights.
Echesa remained hopeful, asserting that all arrested individuals should either be released unconditionally or brought before a court of law by today morning.
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He condemned the arrests as part of a broader government scheme to intimidate teachers exercising their constitutional rights to protest.
He urged the teaching community to rally in support of their colleagues, encouraging a strong showing at Kakamega Central Police Station and later at Kakamega Law Courts.
“Let’s stand together in solidarity,” Echesa concluded, emphasizing the urgency of the situation for the future of teachers’ rights in the area.
The branch treasurer Mbati Mukabana while addressing the press today afternoon remained optimistic that the four would be released before end of business today.
Their optimism has been rewarded, as it remains to be known if they were slapped with any conditions relating to the strike.
By Calistus Imbayi
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