Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said that no police officers were sent to arrest his predecessor Dr Fred Matiangi last night. In a statement to newsrooms, Prof Kindiki has dismissed claims made by leaders who spoke about the incident.
Dr Matiangi’s lawyers and some politicians who spoke from the scene alleged that the said persons were police officers sent to arrest the former Cabinet Secretary. This allegation is utterly false,” read part of the statement.
“No police officer(s) or any security agent from any Government institution or department was dispatched to the home of Dr. Matiang’i to arrest, harass or otherwise interfere with his Constitutional rights in any manner whatsoever.”
The CS Kindiki also confirmed that he had enquired about the matter with the National Police Service (NPS), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). According to him none of them had given its officers orders to send officers to Matiang’i’s residence.
“I have confirmed with the command of the NPS, the EACC, KRA and all law enforcement agencies that none of them have any orders to look for the former Minister,” he said.
The former CS claims that he has received credible information that police officers are under express instructions to arbitrarily capture and arrest him with a view of arraigning him in court for ulterior political motives.
“The powers of arrest by the respondents and the Kenya Police are being abused and misused to harass, intimidate and oppress the applicant and his former cabinet colleagues and the former president; and to achieve extraneous political purposes unconnected with upholding the Law,” Matiangi has argued through his lawyers.
“It is worth noting the fact that the applicant has never been summoned to appear before any police station or investigative agency and no arrest warrants had been issued against him, a clear breach of due process,” said the CS.
According to Dr Matiangi, the timing of the arrest is designed to ensure that he does not attend the funeral and burial service of his late cabinet colleague, Prof. George Magoha.
