Kenyan authorities have arrested four human rights activists outside Uganda House in Nairobi, the capital, as they went to present a protest letter on the Uganda elections.
The four – all Kenyans – had gathered to issue a press statement to condemn police brutality against the opposition in Uganda, where elections are being held on Thursday.
The activists are now being held for questioning at the Central Police Station.
They include Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid, Beatrice Waithera, Ojiro Odhiambo and Yassah Musa.
Police used teargas to disperse the growing crowd as they tried to bundle the protesters into a police land cruiser.
The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya) issued a statement demanding the police release them immediately.
“We demand the release of Hussein Khalid, Waithera Beatrice, Yassah Musa, and Ojiro Odhiambo, who were arrested outside the Ugandan Embassy for speaking against injustices in Uganda and demanding for a free and fair election. Freedom of assembly is a right!,” they said.
Amnesty International Kenya, also called for the release of the four.
President Yoweri Museveni, 76, is seeking his sixth elected term in office after 35 years in power. His main challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi, a former musician known by his stage name, Bobi Wine, has been arrested no fewer than four times.
There are other nine candidates vying for the presidential post.
On Tuesday, the Ugandan government shut down social media ahead of the tense election on Thursday, accusing Facebook and unnamed outside groups of “arrogance” after the social networks this week removed Ugandan accounts linked to his reelection campaign.
Some 18.1 million Ugandans are expected to participate in the general election on Thursday.