Africa-Press – Kenya. UPDATE Tuesday, November 16: Eric Omondi has been released from police custody hours after he was arrested near Parliament buildings in Nairobi.
The comedian, who addressed the media after his release, announced that he would be holding a similar protest march to parliament buildings next Tuesday, in the company of other seasoned artists.
Artists and youth who were in the company of the entertainer have since calmed down and will join the comedian in the next procession.
Comedian Eric Omondi was on Tuesday, November 16, arrested in Nairobi’s Central Business District while leading a demonstration outside Parliament Buildings.
Central Police Station OCS Johnson Lemuna confirmed that the comedian had been arrested and is detained at the station.
“He has been arrested and is currently held at Central Police Station,” he said.
Omondi had just gathered a handful of protestors at the CBD when uniformed officers ambushed the group, before arresting the comedian.
Chaos ensued after the arrest, with police forced to hurl teargas to disperse the youths who had begun demonstrating against the arrest.
The Irate youths have since proceeded to the Central Police Station to demand his release, chanting the slogan ‘free Eric Omondi’.
The comedian was carrying out the protest as part of a campaign to push the government to consider the interest of Kenyan artists who say that they have been abandoned for years.
Among the grievances that Omondi and his entourage are pushing for is 75 percent airplay in Kenyan media for local content.
On Wednesday, November 10, the comedian declared that he would be storming parliament buildings to express disappointment with the state of the entertainment industry in Kenya, urging all musicians to turn up for the demos.
“Ready to make history!!! 5 Days to go!!! We are storming the parliament on Tuesday at 10am. If you are a Kenyan musician or aspiring musician lets meet in LARGE NUMBERS at PARLIAMENT Building at 10am NEXT TUESDAY. WE MUST FIX IT!!! WE WONT BE ASKING FOR MUCH,” read part of his statement.
Today’s arrest is not the first time that the self-proclaimed ‘president of comedy Africa’ has rubbed shoulders with law enforcers.
He was again arrested on March 11, by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation sleuths and Kenya Film Classification Board compliance officers over airing of inappropriate content.
Below is the video:
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