Political analyst Herman Manyora has criticized government over the arrest and detention of social media commentator Scorphine Aoko Otieno alias Maverick.
Manyora through his official X account on Sunday, August 18, 2024, stated that Aoko’s arrest does not speak well of Kenya as a country.
Manyora demands Aoko’s release
The University of Nairobi lecturer has called for immediate release of Aoko, regardless of the reason behind her arrest.
Manyora argues that if Aoko is not set free, Kenya risks coming out as a an extremely intolerant and insensitive country.
“The arrest of Aoko Otieno maverick doesn’t speak well of us as country. For whatever it is, RELEASE her immediately. Otherwise we risk coming out as a an extremely intolerant and insensitive country,” he said.
Manyora on govt crackdowns
Manyora went ahead to claim that the government’s approach of going after whoever speaks against it has never succeeded in any country.
He gave an example of former Zimbabwe President, the late R***********e, whom he says tried using crackdowns on anti-government activists but eventually gave up.
“Government should know that this approach has NEVER worked anywhere. Even Mugabe gave up on the crackdown,” Manyora stated.
The arrest of @AokoOtieno_ maverick doesn’t speak well of us as country. For whatever it is, RELEASE her immediately. Otherwise we risk coming out as a an extremely intolerant and insensitive country. Government should know that this approach has NEVER worked anywhere. Even…
— Herman Manyora (@HManyora) August 18, 2024
Aoko arrested
Aoko is set to be arraigned at the Milimani law court on Monday, August 19, 2024, after she was arrested from her house on Friday, August 16, 2024.
She was taken to Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for grilling before being detained at Muthaiga Police Station to await her arraignment.
Her arrest followed complaints filed with the police over several social media posts she has been making on her X platform.
On Friday evening, a post shared via Aoko’s official X account stated that she had been arrested in the morning, and that she had been detained.
According to the post that identified the writer as Aoko’s aide, she had been denied access to her legal counsel.
“This is Aoko’s Aide. She was arrested this morning & has been detained. They have also denied her legal counsel,” said a post from her X account.
The news about Aoko’s arrest spread online on Friday evening, with some users propelling the #FreeAoko hashtag to have her released.
On Saturday, August 17, 2024, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga’s son Raila Odinga Junior joined Kenyans in calling for her release.