[kictanet] Kenyan Tech Engineer, Zak Muriuki, Died in Ethiopian Jail

Mon Dec 19 19:34:20 EAT 2016

Please spare some time to read and sign the below petition. Any further
suggestions are welcome.

https://www.change.org/p/the-federal-government-of-ethiopia-release-kenyan-engineers-in-ethiopian-jails-now

Kevin

On 19 December 2016 at 19:30, Ngigi Waithaka via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> My condolences to Zak & Family.
>
> This has been very *consistent* from the Ethiopian government; they have
> attacked our border towns, police posts not once, twice, thrice.... And
> now, a Kenyan dies in their jails and yet, nothing is said, not even a
> whimper of protest!
>
> Question is, at which point and over what number of Kenyan lives lost,
> does it necessitate an appropriate & proportionate response from the
> Government?
>
> Unfortunately, and as history has shown, we have scant respect for lives
> in this country!
>
> Anyone remembers the over 40 Police officers killed by bandits in a single
> day? Police officers! Representing the State! And yet some bandits made a
> mockery of them. How many of those bandits were ever brought to justice?
>
> If GoK can't go after those directly challenging its authority, good luck
> unto you if you expect the same GoK to come and rescue an 'ordinary' Kenyan!
>
> Tragic.
>
> On Mon, Dec 19, 2016 at 6:46 PM, Margaret Favour via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> So sad ...why is Ethiopian government treating our these people this way
>> until one of the end up dying in prison? When will this nation know the
>> importance of press freedom? We should join hands and advocate for the
>> release of our dear brothers who are still held in prison....
>>
>> On Mon, Dec 19, 2016 at 6:05 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> From the statement of the government spokesman, it seems the Kenyan
>>> government acknowledges that Ethiopia is not a stable government;
>>> "Government would like to issue a cautionary reminder to citizens living in
>>> foreign countries, especially those which are politically volatile and
>>> conflict prone, to maintain the highest levels of vigilance. It is
>>> incumbent on Kenyans living abroad to be cognizant of laws in those
>>> countries and make every effort to observe them. The liberties enjoyed
>>> under the Kenyan constitution are not standard across board."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> That said, I don't expect an employer doing his normal duties, to also
>>> be expected to identify all the legal hurdles in a foreign country, which
>>> are the responsibility of the companies employing our people. There is a
>>> huge failure on the part of the Ministry of foreign affairs, Ministry of
>>> ICT, and Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. All these over bloated
>>> offices and they cannot pull a simple diplomatic mission of negotiating the
>>> release of hard working expatriates. Kenyans should not languish abroad for
>>> 2 years for crimes they did not commit.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This is a caution to the government in power, the voters are watching
>>> keenly.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________
>>> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
>>> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 19 December 2016 at 15:32, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Kevin,
>>>>
>>>> Many thanks for this email, we empathize with the families of the
>>>> Kenyan techies. I also want to thank Mr. Esuchi for responding even
>>>> though it appears to be a public relations exercise. We hope that this
>>>> matter is treated with the seriousness it deserves so that our Kenyan
>>>> colleagues can be released otherwise it will reverse our efforts to
>>>> promote regional business ties and interrogation. We have seen similar
>>>> cases in South Sudan as well and it is high time the government
>>>> intervenes as it did with regard to the cases in Saudi Arabia.
>>>> Please keep us updated Kevin so that we can have the correct picture
>>>> on what is happening.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> On 12/19/16, Kevin Kamonye via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> > What I can say for sure is that the government could have, and more
>>>> > importantly now, could do much to end the suffering of these
>>>> families.
>>>> >
>>>> > The least they can do is to compel the Ethiopian authorities to
>>>> formally
>>>> > charge all the suspects (others such as Maxwell Ochieng and Oscar
>>>> Otindo
>>>> > have been there for much longer than Jedrick Mugo and the Late Zak
>>>> Muriuki.
>>>> > It was Zak who found a way to communicate to their families of their
>>>> > whereabouts and shared the funds and food channeled to him by the
>>>> company
>>>> > and family, plus many others from other African countries. He also
>>>> took on
>>>> > the role of their 'protector' while in prison).
>>>> >
>>>> > It is a great injustice to be continuously kept in remand on some of
>>>> the
>>>> > flimsiest reasons ever given in a court of law. Zak's last straw was
>>>> when
>>>> > the Judges indicated that the ruling was ready but it was in a
>>>> handwritten
>>>> > format and needed to be typed. This was on Oct 27th and the new
>>>> ruling date
>>>> > was set to January. He came from very high spirits and quickly went
>>>> into
>>>> > depression. This has always been the narrative with the court. I was
>>>> there
>>>> > during the August hearing and they said that they needed to go on
>>>> leave
>>>> > thus pushing it to the Oct date.
>>>> >
>>>> > All this time wives and children and families were without their
>>>> loved ones
>>>> > - and with no officially permitted visits.
>>>> >
>>>> > Finally, Zak was my colleague of many years. As for the company I
>>>> will ask
>>>> > you to listen very carefully on what these families themselves are
>>>> saying.
>>>> > What I know is that these two companies have spent MILLIONS of
>>>> shillings
>>>> > going back and forth to Addis and everywhere else they can to find a
>>>> > solution, legal fees, school and family upkeep fees aside to the
>>>> salaries
>>>> > being paid as usual. There has been a team of lawyers both in
>>>> Ethiopia and
>>>> > Kenya.
>>>> >
>>>> > Tomorrow the 19th is Zak's memorial service at the Lutheran Church on
>>>> > Nyerere Rd, starting at 10 AM (see attached map for directions).
>>>> Afterwards
>>>> > we have also planned a peaceful march to light candles at the
>>>> Ethiopian
>>>> > embassy - as many as the days that they held him without any charge.
>>>> (PS:
>>>> > The police have been duly notified).
>>>> >
>>>> > Anyone that has a means to facilitate that the rest in prison are
>>>> given a
>>>> > fair trial, please side bar.
>>>> >
>>>> > RIP brother Zak.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > 
>>>> >
>>>> > Kevin
>>>> >
>>>> > On 18 December 2016 at 08:09, Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>>>> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> Tony
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Very good point. Infact I wonder how in the first place did this
>>>> company
>>>> >> or companies accept to do work in a country like Ethiopia without
>>>> >> ensuring
>>>> >> they have ALL the relevant licenses and government approvals. We all
>>>> know
>>>> >> Ethiopia is one of the most oppressive countries in the world right
>>>> now.
>>>> >> Chasing dollars without enduring you are on the right side of the
>>>> law is
>>>> >> simply criminal. They ought to be charged for reckless endangerment
>>>> of
>>>> >> their employees' lives.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> *Ali Hussein*
>>>> >> *Principal*
>>>> >> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>> >> +254 0713 601113 <0713%20601113>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>> >>
>>>> >> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and
>>>> thinking
>>>> >> what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sent from my iPad
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On 18 Dec 2016, at 7:27 AM, Tony White via kictanet <
>>>> >> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> What I find most disgusting in this case is that they appear to have
>>>> >> been totally abandoned by their employer! It is easy to blame
>>>> >> 'serikali', but the employer should have been on the ground with
>>>> >> competent lawyers etc. to resolve this - *not* "we couldn't find the
>>>> >> ambassador" for 2 years!!
>>>> >>
>>>> >> RIP Zak.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On 17/12/2016, Barrack Otieno via kictanet
>>>> >> <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Hi Ali,
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I read the same and i must say it is terrible, the worst bit is that
>>>> >>
>>>> >> the Kenyan Ambassador could not be reached to help resolve the
>>>> problem
>>>> >>
>>>> >> if this is true somebody needs to go home, we cannot have public
>>>> >>
>>>> >> servants who cannot help the Kenyan public , it is the epitome of
>>>> >>
>>>> >> arrogance if there is truth in it. It is bad in this day and age for
>>>> >>
>>>> >> public servants to ignore requests from the public, anyone who know
>>>> >>
>>>> >> this issue well should enlighten us but as an ICT community we must
>>>> >>
>>>> >> say no to the way this issue appears to be handled in a pedestrian
>>>> >>
>>>> >> manner with the same breath that we opposed the ICT bill.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> We need to join hands and petition the government on this matter.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Justice be our shield and defender May we dwell in unity, Peace and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> liberty, Plenty be found within our borders
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Regards
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On 12/17/16, Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> >
>>>> >> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Listers
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Saddest news. It also appears that there are three more Kenyan ICT
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Practitioners who are still languishing in prison in Ethiopia. The
>>>> main
>>>> >>
>>>> >> charge is that they are accused of installing communication equipment
>>>> >>
>>>> >> without a license. Mugo, was arrested with Zak (may the almighty
>>>> rest his
>>>> >>
>>>> >> soul in peace) over a year ago and Osborne Otinda with his colleague
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Maxwell
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Odhiambo (according to today's Nation, Page 3) were arrested in
>>>> October
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 2014
>>>> >>
>>>> >> and are still in jail.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Excerpts:-
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> (Addis Standard) – The body of a Kenyan engineer who died while in an
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Ethiopian prison has arrived home on Thursday Dec. 11th.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Zak Muriuki, a father of two girls (pictured) and a tech engineer by
>>>> >>
>>>> >> profession, arrived in Ethiopia nearly two years ago on January 9,
>>>> 2015,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> according to information obtained by Addis Standard. He was arrested
>>>> on
>>>> >>
>>>> >> January 10 along with another Kenyan, Jadrick Mugo, who is still in
>>>> >>
>>>> >> prison.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Read on:-
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> http://www.ayyaantuu.net/kenyan-tech-engineer-zak-muriuki/
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> It also appears that the government is doing what it can to get the
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Kenyans
>>>> >>
>>>> >> released.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Ali Hussein
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Principal
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Hussein & Associates
>>>> >>
>>>> >> +254 0713 601113 <0713%20601113>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>> >>
>>>> >> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and
>>>> thinking
>>>> >>
>>>> >> what
>>>> >>
>>>> >> no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sent from my iPad
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> --
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Barrack O. Otieno
>>>> >>
>>>> >> +254721325277 <0721%20325277>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> +254733206359 <0733%20206359>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Skype: barrack.otieno
>>>> >>
>>>> >> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >>
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>>>> >>
>>>> >> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> >>
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>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> >>
>>>> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/tony.m
>>>> >> zungu%40gmail.com
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>> platform
>>>> >> for
>>>> >>
>>>> >> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> >>
>>>> >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the
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>>>> >>
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>>>> >>
>>>> >>
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>>>> >>
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>>>> >>
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>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> --
>>>> >> Tony White
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> kictanet mailing list
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>>>> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>> >> ailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>> platform
>>>> >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the
>>>> ICT
>>>> >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>>> >> development.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>> behaviors
>>>> >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>> >> bandwidth,
>>>> >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>>>> privacy, do
>>>> >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> kictanet mailing list
>>>> >> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>> >> ailman/options/kictanet/kevin.kamonye%40gmail.com
>>>> >>
>>>> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder
>>>> platform
>>>> >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the
>>>> ICT
>>>> >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>>>> >> development.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>>>> behaviors
>>>> >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>>>> >> bandwidth,
>>>> >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>>>> privacy, do
>>>> >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Barrack O. Otieno
>>>> +254721325277 <0721%20325277>
>>>> +254733206359 <0733%20206359>
>>>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>>>> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/kivuva%40transworldafrica.com
>>>>
>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>
>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>
>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>> ailman/options/kictanet/ngigi%40at.co.ke
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> *Regards,*
>
> *Wait**haka Ngigi*
> Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod
> Building
> T +254 20 525 0750 |Office Mobile: +254 716 201061 | M +254 737 811 000
> www.at.co.ke
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/
> mailman/options/kictanet/kevin.kamonye%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
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