A Nakuru based blogger was arrested and detained at the Nakuru Central Police Station earlier today allegedly for taking a photograph of long winding queue of Kenyans seeking services at Huduma center .
His arrest brought a fierce debate on the social media especially twitter where #ReleaseEzerKipkurui was among topics that were trending. Kenyans on Twitter better known as KOT demanded to know when Huduma centres became protected areas that could not be photographed, in fact after digging on protected areas in Kenya, Huduma center did not appear in the list.A black and white A4 with words '' NO PHOTOGRAPHY'' hangs in the building, most people seems to agree that Huduma center is not among the protected areas.
Ezer Kipkurui told me that he was attracted by the long queue , being a good blogger he wanted to highlight the issue of slow service delivery at the government office but before he could even press the button to take a photo he was quickly grabbed and arrested.He claimed that the arresting officer manhandled him and did not want to listen to his plea. ''The officer displayed some level of arrogance'' said a source who did not want to be mentioned.
Upon arriving at the Nakuru Central Police Headquarters where he was held the booking officer told me that the young man had been held for resisting arrest as the OB read at that time, on further inquiry the officer quickly scribbled photography as another offense, she did not even state where the photography was done, seems not of interest to her.
A short while later together with Ezer's girlfriend we knocked into the OCS's office for more information.He told us to wait outside for an hour as he made some follow up on the case which until then was about photography and resisting arrest.
Meanwhile KOT was still tweeting and demanding his release or at least the suspect was freed on cash bail, but nothing much happened from the public outcry.
An hour later the OCS calls us ,says the boy has a case to answer, that he breached peace by causing disturbance at the public office,and that he would continue keeping the phone while they searched for evidence on the purported photography on ''a protected area''.''He will be presented before a court of law tomorrow morning'' Said Omollo Central Police OCS.
As i type this, Ezer is in a police cell for an alleged offense that is categorically bailable, i may be wrong but the police too could be wrong.
TUKUTANE KOTINI ..................................................
