Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir in his constituency during a peace conference. [Photo: Abdulswamad Nassir/ facebook.com]
An MP has threatened to mobilise his constituents to demonstrate against alleged police harassment in Mombasa.
Abdulswamad Nassir (Mvita, ODM) said cases of unexplained police mistreatment directed at youth in the Coastal town were on the rise.Nassir spoke a day after a one Abdulkadir Ali was allegedly arrested by police officers on patrol at 8pm in Old Town Mombasa, beaten before being set free three hours later.“A recent example is a case where a youth by the name Suheil Ali Abdulkadir was publicly harassed, beaten up and was then released,” Nassir said on Wednesday.“There is ample evidence to support these allegations. We shall announce a major mass demonstration demanding justice for Ali Abdulkadir.”“We have repeatedly discussed the use of such unorthodox tactics to fight crime as being ineffective and causing more negative impacts.”“The Police should rather work in harmony with communities to identify criminal elements within them. The Police also need to have theiridentities with them in line with the Kenyan law as we have also witnessed many instances of police impersonation who perpetrate other crimes in the society.”Abdulkadir who claimed he suffered a fractured arm as a result of police beating claimed he was from a Mosque walking home when the officers pounced on him.He said the officers did not ask for his identification nor did they probe to know where he was coming from and where he was going to.Francis Auma, an official at Haki Africa, a local human rights group said the organisation was in support of the demonstration against police harassment. He said Haki Africa officials will coordinate with Nassir’s office to set a date for the one day protest.Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki said the harassment claims will be probed and appropriate disciplinary action taken against the officers implicated.