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Row over Kenya minister's arrest Kenya minister's arrest illegal
(about 2 hours later)
Kenyan Health Minister Charity Ngilu is engaged in a stand-off with police at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in the capital, Nairobi. Kenyan Health Minister Charity Ngilu has been freed from police custody after the Nairobi High Court ruled that her arrest was illegal.
She had been engaged in a stand-off for several hours after the police refused to let her car leave the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters.
She was summoned to report there after being arrested on Thursday for helping a protester escape police custody.She was summoned to report there after being arrested on Thursday for helping a protester escape police custody.
But she has locked herself in her car inside the building's grounds and is demanding to be freed or charged. Ms Ngilu's supporters say she is being intimidated for political reasons.
Ms Ngilu's supporters say she is being intimidated because she is standing up to President Mwai Kibaki. "We made a constitutional application in court and it has ruled that Ms Ngilu's arrest and detention was illegal, so we have just left the CID headquarters," her lawyer Paul Muite told the BBC News website.
She is the registered leader of the Narc coalition and refuses to stand down in favour of Mr Kibaki ahead of December's elections.
The law is not going to be compromised in this country Eric KiraithePolice spokesmanThe law is not going to be compromised in this country Eric KiraithePolice spokesman
Mr Muite however said they are yet to decide what steps the minister would take after the release.
Ms Ngilu was first arrested on Thursday and spent several hours in detention, before being freed on bail and told to report to CID headquarters on Friday.
She turned up but refused to leave her car, demanding to be released or charged in court.
But police commissioner Major General Hussein Ali said she had committed a crime by storming into a police station and freeing a women's rights activist.But police commissioner Major General Hussein Ali said she had committed a crime by storming into a police station and freeing a women's rights activist.
He, however, declined to say whether the minister would be charged. "The law is not going to be compromised in this country. It does not matter your station in life," police spokesman Eric Kiraithe had told AP.
"I am expecting to be taken to court and if they will not do so they should allow me to go back to my office and carry on with my duties, if they need me they will get me there," Ms Ngilu told journalists at the gates of the CID headquarters. Mr Muite had labelled the arrest "nonsensical", saying Ms Ngilu helped the female protester to hospital after she had been beaten by police.
Her lawyer, Paul Muite, labelled the arrest "nonsensical", saying Ms Ngilu helped the female protester to hospital after she had been beaten by police.
'Wrongful arrest''Wrongful arrest'
The protester, Anne Njogu and four others, were arrested after objecting to plans by MPs to award themselves a $20m bonus before parliament is dissolved.The protester, Anne Njogu and four others, were arrested after objecting to plans by MPs to award themselves a $20m bonus before parliament is dissolved.
She was taken to hospital by Ms Ngilu on Tuesday, but rearrested on Wednesday. Ms Njogu was taken to hospital by Ms Ngilu on Tuesday, but rearrested on Wednesday.
The protesters say MPs do not deserve such a huge pay-offA day later a judge ordered all five to be released, saying their detention had been illegal. The five now plan to sue the police for wrongful arrest.The protesters say MPs do not deserve such a huge pay-offA day later a judge ordered all five to be released, saying their detention had been illegal. The five now plan to sue the police for wrongful arrest.
Police refused to give details of Ms Ngilu's arrest, which happened on Thursday, but said her detention was justified, the Associated Press reported. This is the first time a minister has been arrested since President Mwai Kibaki came to power in 2003.
"The law is not going to be compromised in this country. It does not matter your station in life," police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told AP. Ms Ngilu is the registered leader of the Narc coalition and refuses to stand down in favour of Mr Kibaki ahead of December's elections.
This is the first time a minister has been arrested since President Kibaki came to power in 2003.
MPs are to vote on a government proposal to give them a bonus equivalent to 12.5% increase in their pay and allowances backdated to January 2003.MPs are to vote on a government proposal to give them a bonus equivalent to 12.5% increase in their pay and allowances backdated to January 2003.
Correspondent say Kenya's MPs are seen as lazy and self-interested.Correspondent say Kenya's MPs are seen as lazy and self-interested.
There are often not enough in parliament to pass legislation - unless it concerns a pay rise for themselves.There are often not enough in parliament to pass legislation - unless it concerns a pay rise for themselves.
They already earn more than $10,000 a month in salaries and expenses, much of which is tax-free, in a country where most live on less than $1 a day.They already earn more than $10,000 a month in salaries and expenses, much of which is tax-free, in a country where most live on less than $1 a day.
President Kibaki is due to seek re-election in December but it is not clear which party he will represent.President Kibaki is due to seek re-election in December but it is not clear which party he will represent.
He was elected in 2003 at the head of a wide coalition, which has since fractured.He was elected in 2003 at the head of a wide coalition, which has since fractured.