Peter Njogu Nzomo, a young protester whose arrest during nationwide demonstrations captured widespread attention, has been released following the intervention of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
The LSK President, Faith Odhiambo, announced Nzomo’s release on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“The protester here in Eldoret has been released. We thank our advocates led by Council Member Aseso Omollo,” Odhiambo wrote on X on July 16, 2024.
Nzomo gained instant internet fame after his arrest was caught on camera.
He was apprehended by police while peacefully demonstrating outside Zion Mall in Eldoret.
In the video, Nzomo can be seen calmly speaking to a police officer, asserting his right to protest and promising to help identify any troublemakers among the demonstrators.
“I am just at peace. I have no problem. A flag and a whistle. Do I have anything else? When thieves come to steal, we catch them and bring them to you. Let’s just protest peacefully,” Nzomo said before being taken into a police vehicle.
Nzomo also claimed that one of the police officers accused him of attempting to overthrow President William Ruto’s government.
“That person first told me I am changing the government; let him come now. I am defending my country; I don’t have much to say. They haven’t told me anything up to now. Raising a flag and a whistle, and they have taken my phone,” he said.
Nzomo’s arrest and subsequent release highlight the tensions surrounding the ongoing protests in Kenya, as citizens express their frustrations with the government amid a surge in abductions and extrajudicial killings.
The LSK’s successful intervention in Nzomo’s case underscores the critical role of legal advocacy in protecting the rights of demonstrators.