‘Occupy Parliament’ Activists Refuse To Take Plea

17 ‘Occupy Parliament’ activists were Monday arraigned in court following last week’s protests at the entrance of Parliament over MPs’ pay increase plans where were charged with rioting and causing breach of peace.

However, the 17 activists refused to take plea after the defence (their Lawyer Harun Ndubi) objected arguing that the charges of breach of peace and cruelty to animals have no sufficient details and should be struck out. The protesters dressed in ‘Occupy Parliament’ T-shirts were released on a cash bail of Sh10,000 each pending a ruling by the court scheduled for Thursday this week on whether the activists should plea to the charges.

The 17 activists face three charges of intending to provoke breach of peace by pouring “gallons of bloody substance at the gate of Parliament and releasing a pig with several piglets”.

They were also charged with taking part in a riot contrary to section 78(1) (2) as read with section 80 of the penal code, and of being cruel to animals.