Human rights defender Mr Stephen Musau remains at risk following repeated anonymous threats and the arrest of his colleague Mr Keneth Kirimi. Stephen Musau is the Executive Coordinator of Release Political Prisoners (RPP), a human rights non-governmental organisation documenting, publicising and doing advocacy on issues related to political prisoners.

Further Information

Front Line issued an appeal on the arbitrary arrest and alleged torture of Keneth Kirimi on 25 April 2010.

Stephen Musau started receiving a number of threatening text messages and calls since his colleague Keneth Kirimi was arrested in Nairobi on 22 April 2010. All calls and messages were sent by a private number which, according to the telephone company, cannot be traced. One of the text messages, received on 10 May 2010, asked Did you get your colleague Kirimi? You should know that we still need your heads.

Keneth Kirimi was detained without charge for over two days and reportedly subjected to torture while in detention. Much of his interrogation concerned the work of Stephen Musau.

According to Mr Kirimi, he was interrogated about links between RPP and the Mungiki (an illegal politico-religious group in Kenya); the work carried out by Stephen Musau and the organisation generally with regard to the Mt. Elgon military operations; the work of Stephen Musau and RPP regarding extrajudicial killings and the subsequent sharing of their report with the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions during his visit to Kenya in March 2009; why Stephen Musau was so vocal regarding extrajudicial killings and so concerned with government operations on matters of security, among other questions. Keneth Kirimi was found on 25 April at Suswa Market, in serious physical pain and is currently undergoing treatment.

Front Line is seriously concerned for the safety and physical and psychological integrity of Stephen Musau, and believes the repeated threats against him and the arbitrary detention and alleged torture of his colleague Keneth Kirimi, to be directly linked to RPP's legitimate work in defence of human rights.