By Andrew Kariuki
Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi’s, Amani National Congress (ANC) has strongly condemned the police over what it termed as excessive and unjustifiable force used to block a political meeting at Ufungamano House in Nairobi.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party criticised security agencies for disrupting a gathering attended by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo and other leaders aligned to the Linda Mwananchi faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
ANC stated that police officers repeatedly attempted to block access to the venue and disrupt what it described as a lawful political meeting, terming the actions unnecessary and an abuse of state power.
The party argued that the move constituted a violation of Article 38 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble, associate, and participate in political activities.
“Using police to deny citizens, including elected leaders, access to a lawful meeting is not law enforcement. It is political suppression,” the statement read.
The party further expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of state agencies being used to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties.
According to ANC, the deployment of police to disrupt opposition meetings undermines democratic principles and signals a shift toward authoritarian practices.
The party called on national leadership to respect political pluralism and uphold constitutional freedoms, warning that weakening political institutions for short-term gain could erode the country’s democratic foundations.
ANC also urged institutions such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to safeguard democratic processes and ensure the protection of political rights.
