By Dorothy Musyoka
The United Green Movement Party Leader, David Maraga has strongly condemned the use of force by police officers at political gatherings, terming the tactic an outdated strategy meant to avoid genuine political dialogue.
Speaking to the press in Embu town, United Green Movement Party Leader Maraga said the continued deployment of force against peaceful assemblies would not yield any political advantage for the state.
He emphasized that the only sustainable path forward is to allow citizens to freely exercise their constitutional and democratic rights without intimidation.
Maraga revealed that his party is considering filing a lawsuit to seek justice for victims of alleged police brutality and to ensure those responsible are held fully accountable under the law.
He cited a recent rally in Kitengela, describing it as largely peaceful until police officers arrived and allegedly disrupted and dispersed the gathering without justifiable cause.
He drew parallels with a separate incident in Nyeri, where he claimed women, children, and worshippers were tear-gassed despite no provocation that would have warranted such action.
Turning to electoral matters, Maraga criticized the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) following its recent disclosure of low voter turnout during the last voter registration drive.
He faulted the commission’s approach, urging it to decentralize registration services from constituency headquarters to grassroots levels.
According to Maraga, the IEBC should prioritize taking services closer to the people rather than requiring citizens to travel.