‘Niko Kadi’ Founder Allans Ademba Arrested During Ol Kalou By-Election Over Alleged Filming Without Press Pass
The founder of the Niko Kadi civic initiative, Allans Ademba, is expected to be arraigned before the Ol Kalou Law Courts on Friday after spending the night in police custody following his arrest during Thursday’s high-stakes parliamentary by-election.
Ademba’s lawyer, Melvine Thogo, said the activist was arrested on the morning of July 16 while documenting events around polling stations, accusing police of unlawfully detaining him despite not violating electoral laws.
According to Thogo, officers alleged that Ademba was filming the election process without possessing accreditation as a journalist. However, she insisted that her client was neither inside a polling booth nor interfering with voting or election officials.
She argued that the Election Offences Act prohibits photography and filming only in restricted voting areas and not in public spaces surrounding polling stations.
“According to the Election Offenses Act, filming at the voting booth is prohibited, which he wasn’t doing. He was outside, just like someone trying to vlog. He wasn’t filming anything that was prohibited and wasn’t interviewing voters or interfering with the election process,” Thogo said.
Before his arrest, Ademba had been posting photographs and updates from polling stations on social media, documenting voters queuing as early as 7:25 a.m.
At approximately 8:51 a.m., he posted a brief message on X stating:
“I’ve been arrested. I am at Ol Kalou DCI.”
The post quickly circulated online, prompting concern among activists, civil society groups and members of the public, who demanded his immediate release and called on authorities to explain the reasons behind his detention.
Lawyer Gives Account of Arrest
According to Thogo, Ademba had travelled to Ol Kalou in Nyandarua County to observe youth participation in the by-election and monitor turnout among young people who had registered under the Niko Kadi civic engagement initiative.
She said a police officer initially approached him and questioned whether he was working as a journalist. After Ademba reportedly explained that he was an ordinary citizen observing the election process, the officer left.
Roughly 15 minutes later, Thogo said, a vehicle carrying five plain-clothed men arrived at the scene and escorted Ademba to Ol Kalou Police Station without clearly explaining the offence he had allegedly committed.
When he sought clarification, the men reportedly identified themselves as officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Thogo said Ademba remained in good health while in custody, adding that a legal team had been monitoring the situation to ensure he received appropriate support pending his court appearance.
Arrest Comes Amid Tense By-Election
Ademba’s arrest occurred against the backdrop of heightened security during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, which was marred by several security incidents as voting progressed.
The election witnessed clashes between police and sections of voters, reports of plain-clothed security officers deploying tear gas, and allegations that hooded armed individuals disrupted parts of the exercise.
The incidents prompted Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to direct security agencies to investigate claims of misconduct and establish the circumstances surrounding the disturbances.
Authorities had not publicly responded to the lawyer’s claims regarding the legality of Ademba’s arrest at the time of publication.
Also Read:Â Trump Administration Ends Open-Ended Student Visas With New Four-Year Limit