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Kenya: Current information on Safina Party, especially on arrests of its members in 1995

Safina, which means "Ark" in Kiswahili (HRW 1996, 24; The Christian Science Monitor 28 Aug. 1995, 55; Jeune Afrique 29-05 Jul. 1995, 29) is a political formation which was founded by renowned conservationist Richard Leakey in May 1995 ( ibid.; AFP 20 June 1995; Reuters 20 June 1995). Human rights lawyer Muturi Kigano acts as chairman of the party and Richard Leakey is the Secretary-General (AFP 20 June 1995, 30).

The government of Kenya refuses to register the Safina party (HRW 1966, 24). In January 1996, the unregistered Safina joined with three leading legal opposition groups: Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya (FORD-K), FORD-Asile and the Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), to form a new political organisation, the National Alliance (Muungana wa Ukombozi), with the primary goal of defeating the ruling KANU party in the upcoming 1997 election (AFP 29 Jan. 1996, 56; ibid. 2 Feb. 1996).

President Arap Moi accuses Safina of links with the guerrilla organization of February Eighteenth Resistance Army (FERA) and of intention to cause chaos in the country (West Africa 11-17 Mar. 1996, 1; KBC Radio 3 Mar. 1996; KTN TV 3 July 1995). The Secretary General of the Safina party, Richard Leakey, has also been accused by President Arap Moi of being a racist colonialist (HWR 1996, 24).

In August 1995, Kenyan police arrested two Safina activists and charged them with trespassing; they were later released on a bond of 10,000 shillings (AFP 4 Aug. 1995, 10). Also in August 1995, Richard Leakey and other Safina members were attacked, assaulted and beaten allegedly by supportors of the ruling KANU party (Country Reports 1996, np; HWR 1996, 24; AI 10 Aug. 1995; The Christian Science Monotor 28 Aug. 1995, 55-56).

 In October 1995, Koigi wa Wamwere, a Safina founder, was sentenced to four years imprisonment (Africa News 6 Oct. 1995, 5; The Irish Times 4 October 1995, 7). He was charged with armed robbery, but according Amnesty International the trial did not conform to international standards and the group called for the immediate and unconditional release of Wawamwere (The Irish Times 3 Oct. 1995, 8; Africa News 6 Oct. 1995, 5).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Press (AFP) [Paris]. 29 January 1996. "Kenya Opposition Alliance Officially Formed."

_____. 20 June 1995. "Parti d'Opposition Safina de Richard Leakley."

Africa News [Durham]. 6 October 1995. "Kenya Dissidents Jailed For Four Years." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 10 August 1995. Kenya: Peaceful Political Activists Beaten and Whipped. (AI Index: AFR32/14/95). London: Amnesty International

The Christian Science Monotor [Boston]. 28 August 1995. Louise Tunbridge. "Kenya's Slipping Democracy Leads To an Attack on White Opponent." (NEXIS)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. (Electronic version received from Resource Information Centre, US Immigration and Naturalisation Service)

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1995. Human Rights Watch World Report 1996. New York: Human Rights Watch

The Irish Times. 4 October 1995. City Edition. "Kenya: Dissidents Charged." (NEXIS)

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 29-05 July 1995. " Kenya: Le Parti du Blanc."

KBC Radio [Nairobi, in English]. 2 March 1996. "Kenya; President Accuses Safina Party of Being Behind Student Unrest." (BBC Summary 3 Mar. 1996/NEXIS)

KTN TV [Nairobi, in English]. 4 August 1995. "Kenya: Two Safina Party Members Arrested, Released on Bail." (BBC Summary 4 August 1995/NEXIS)

_____. 30 June 199. "Kenya; Moi Links Safina Party to Islamists and Rebels." (BBC Summary 3 July 1995/NEXIS)

Reuters. 20 June 1995. BC Cycle. Peter Smerdon "Kenyan Opposition Party Comes to Life."

West Africa [London]. 11-17 March 1996. "Africa this Week: Safina Party Accused."

Attachments

Agence France Press (AFP) [Paris]. 29 January 1996. "Kenyan Opposition Alliance Officially Formed", (NEXIS)

_____. 20 June 1995. "Parti d'Opposition Safina de Richard Leakley", p. 30.

Africa News [Durham]. 6 October 1995. "Kenya Dissidents Jailed For Four Years." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 10 August 1995. Kenya: Peaceful Political Activists Beaten and Whipped. (AI Index: AFR/32/14/95). London: Amnesty International

The Christian Science Monotor [Boston]. 28 August 1995. Louise Tunbridge. " Kenya's Slipping Democracy Leads To an Attack on White Opponent." (NEXIS)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. (Electronic version received from Resource Information Centre, US Immigration and Naturalisation Service)

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1995. Human Rights Watch World Report 1996. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 24-25.

The Irish Times. 4 October 1995. City Edition. "Kenyan Dissidents Charged." (NEXIS)

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 29 July 1995. " Kenya: Le Parti du Blanc," p. 36.

KBC Radio [Nairobi, in English]. 2 March 1996. "Kenya; President Accuses Safina Party of Being Behind Student Unrest." (BBC Summary 3 Mar. 1996/NEXIS)

KTN TV [Nairobi, in English]. 2 August 1995. "Kenya: Two Safina Party Members Arrested, Released on Bail." (BBC Summary 4 August 1995/NEXIS)

_____. 30 June 1995. "Kenya; Moi Links Safina Party to Islamists and Rebels." (BBC Summary 3 July 1995/NEXIS)

Reuters. 20 June 1995. BC Cycle. Peter Smerdon "Kenya: Opposition Party Comes to Life," (NEXIS)

West Africa [London]. 11-17 March 1996. "Africa this Week: Safina Party Accused," p. 1.