Muslim cleric who opted to remain in jail despite court freeing him ejected from Kamiti Prison

A Muslim cleric who was charged with terrorism in 2018 and was last month acquitted by a Nairobi court but declined to leave jail has been forced out of Kamiti Prison where he had opted to remain. 

Sheikh Guyo Gorsa Buru was ejected from Kamiti Prison on Saturday but opted to camp outside the prison pleading with the correctional facility not to free him.

At the gate, Guyo protested his release saying he feared he could be abducted and killed by State agents, claiming it has happened to other terror suspects. 

“I was forcefully released today but he prison officers. The court had allowed me to remain here for 30 days, and now I am out here scared for my life because of the victimization terror suspects face,” he told Citizen Digital.

Last month, a Nairobi court ruled that the State had failed to prove its case against Guyo. His lawyer had asked the court for the guarantee of State protection of his client once freed.

“I insist my client needs state protection, there are numerous cases of people being charged with terror offense found dead once acquitted, so his fear of elimination is valid,” John Khaminwa said.

Gorsa pleasded with the court to remain in custody until an application he filed at the High Court to be granted State protection is determined.

Magistrate Wendy Muchemi agreed with Gorsa’s application but for a period of 30 days in which he would pay for remand services.

After the Kamiti maximum prison freed him, the cleric once again refused to be handed over to his relatives who had camped with him outside the facility.

“I am not ready to leave Kamiti,  I am a free man but I am not sure if I can get home safe. My freedom means nothing if I keep living in fear.  A maximum prison is better than living in fear everyday,” he said.

 In April 2014, Abubakar Sharif Ahmed, known as Makaburi, was shot dead in Mombasa as he left  a courtroom. Amnesty international and other human rights groups have accused Kenya’s police of extrajudicial killings and abductions.  According to Amnesty international, 33 people were forcibly disappeared by the police, the police denied the allegations.