Priest held for trespassing
2005-08-12 14:34
Kitale - Police arrested an Irish priest who led a demonstration police said trespassed on private property, said a senior police officer and church official on Friday.
It was not the first arrest for Rev Gabriel Dolan, who had been a prominent campaigner against the transfer of public land to politically connected individuals, organisations and companies, something that became rampant under the 24-year rule of former president Daniel arap Moi.
Dolan led the demonstration on Wednesday during which protesters pulled down an iron fence to get to a plot of land they said had been illegally transferred from public to private hands.
Joseph Wanyoike, a member of the Kitale Catholic Church Justice and Peace Commission, said the protesters were dispersed by anti-riot police who shot live bullets in the air and fired tear gas canisters.
Priest demands release of other protesters
Wanyoike said about 20 demonstrators were injured and Dolan went into hiding after police arrested 51 demonstrators on Wednesday.
He said police arrested Dolan early on Friday when the priest went to demand the release of his fellow demonstrators.
He did not say why Dolan chose to come out of hiding.
Kitale police chief Augustine Kimantiria confirmed the arrest and said Dolan would be charged with trespassing on private property, but he did not say when.
In 2003, Dolan was arrested for trying to block vice-president Moody Awori's motorcade to present a memorandum on the land grabs. He was later released.
- AP