Nairobi, Kenya - A Kenyan lawyer arrested in Kampala while attempting to represent suspects arrested in connection with the 11July 2010 terror bombings in the country has sued Kenya and Uganda at the East African Court of Justice wrongful detention. Mbugua Mureithi has sued the two governments for abusing his rights under the East African Community (EAC) treaty, which guarantees freedom of movement in the entire region in line with the EAC treaty.

Mureithi and prominent Muslim rights activist, Al Amin Kimathi, were arrested and detained in Ugandan capital, Kampala, on suspicion that they could be accomplices in the crimes for which some of the Kenyan suspects were arrested.

Although Mureithi was released after a few days, Kimathi spent several months in detention and was released in 2011 after the state dropped the charges against him.

Mureithi joins other Kenyan citizens, all arrested and rendered to the Ugandan authorities to face trial for the Kampala terrorist bombings, the first major international terrorist attack to be carried out by the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab.

Judges at the East African Court have in the past month rejected an attempt by the Kenyan Attorney-General, Githu Muigai, to stop the trial and allowed the trial to proceed.

Most cases against the five EAC states have been around the subject of respect for the principles of good governance and the rule of law.

Kenya, Uganda and the EAC Secretary-General opposed the case, arguing that it was filed after the two-month period allowed for filing the cases before the Court.

Mureithi, a respected Kenyan lawyer, was denied a chance to represent the suspects. The Ugandan authorities said he needed to be registered as a lawyer in Uganda.

Pana 05/01/2012