Activist Boniface Mwangi was on Friday arrested and barred from attending the National Youth Service pass-out parade in Gilgil.
Speaking to reporters, Mwangi disclosed that officers noticed him taking pictures of the chaos and dirt during the event when they apprehended him.
“They arrested and later released me after deleting the pictures I had taken. They have barred me from attending the event so now I am just chilling at a cafe called Shepherd in the town,” he told this writer over the phone.
He added that upon his arrest, he produced his press card and the officer later made some phones calls to corroborate that he was indeed a journalist.
The activist conveyed that he had no ill-intentions stating that he had gone to Gilgil because of a relative who was part of the pass-out parade.
“Will have to wait for them to finish the ceremony and my people can come out. I am their ride home,” he noted.
Before being kicked out, Mwangi was able to take a picture of the chaos and dirt at the event.
“The chaos, the dirt, police confiscating food, drinks and throwing everything on the floor. No dustbins, no order, and very aggressive language by law enforcers barking at people. Police, NYS cadets have sticks to push and hit people,” he conveyed in tweet.
During the event, President Uhuru Kenyatta stated that his administration would not relent in the war against corruption.
“Those who looted NYS funds will be held to account and stolen properties returned,” the Head of State affirmed.
According to the photojournalist, he was arrested after being spotted filming the chaos and dirt at the venue.
Following his arrest, Mwangi produced his press card prompting the officers to make some calls.
The images he had captured were subsequently deleted and he was banned from attending the pass out parade.
“Travelled to Gilgil to attend a relative’s National Youth Service pass out parade. I took pics of the chaos and dirt all over. I was arrested. Produced my press card (I renew my membership every year).
“They made some calls, deleted my pics and said l have been banned from attending the event. The chaos, the dirt, police confiscating food, drinks and throwing everything on the floor.
“No dust bins, no order, and very aggressive language by law enforcers, barking at people. Kenya Police, NYS cadets have sticks to push and hit people,” he wrote on social media.