GORY pictures of their brutality in quelling the January 2008 post election violence yesterday infuriated police in Nakuru.
They stormed an exhibition venue and pulled down from the walls the photos they said may incite the public to violence. Police boss Johnstone Ipara led a group of 10 officers to raid the exhibition hall at Nyayo Gardens. They took away close to 15 photos on display but left some. Ipara said the exhibition dubbed Picha Mtaani displayed pictures that could be used to create a “breach of peace”
One of the organisers was temporarily arrested as the police threatened to revoke the exhibition permit. “We must respect each other as Kenyans and some of these images went against that doctrine,” the police chief told attendants.
“However, the remaining ones appear to pass the message that the youths intend to exhibit.” He told reporters despite having given the organisers a permit, they could not be allowed to portray images that could “promote intolerance” Ipara was however hard-pressed to explain why they had only taken images showing police in action. Reports of the post-election violence by various human rights groups show police killed at between 150 to 200 people.
Picha Mtaani co-ordinator George Gachara accused the police of harassment and intimidation. Gachara said the police are trying to hide the truth about the violence that followed the bungled 2007 Presidential elections. He described the raid an indication that authorities are still burying their heads in the sand over the chaos.
He said the exhibition was meant to help wananchi understand the impact of conflict and reconcile. The exhibition was funded by UNDP the US embassy and various religious organisations.
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