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Imanyara says 'willing to die' after night ordeal
By CAROLINE WAFULA
Posted Wednesday, April 18 2012 at 10:58
Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara has recounted to a shocked Parliament chilling details of a night ordeal where he says he was accosted by four thugs.
Mr Imanyara said the goons forced him to pledge support to a leading presidential aspirant during the 11.30pm incident, which happened on State House Crescent Tuesday night.
According to the Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) MP, he slowed down after spotting a car which appeared stalled in the middle of the road.
Three men alighted and one of them approached his car asking him to confirm his identity.
"He asked me: "wewe ndio Imanyara?" (are you Imanyara?) and I said yes I am. Then he told the fourth man, a gang leader, who was in their car in Kikuyu, he is the one," he said.
The MP claimed the fourth man also alighted and he was then ordered out of the car and asked to hand over his gun which he didn't have.
He told stunned MPs that he was coerced into saying "Uhuru tuko pamoja" (Uhuru we are together) three times and told to swear facing Mount Kenya.
"I have said many times and a repeat, in the face of the new Constitution, I am willing to die but I will not accept a situation where anyone, no matter how senior or mighty directs me on whom I should support.
"I won't be party to any compartmentalisation of this country into regions and let those who think they can intimidate others know that we cannot be cowed," he said.
The slogan is the rallying cry of supporters belonging to Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who has indicated his intention to succeed President Kibaki as Kenya's fourth president.
In Parliament, Mr Imanyara said the thugs also asked him not to attend the controversial Limuru 2B rally, whose organisers say was aimed at bringing together Kenyans from all regions to champion non-tribal alliances ahead of the General Election.
Police cancelled the meeting on grounds that youth planned to cause mayhem.
The gang also instructed him not to accompany Prime Minister Raila Odinga to Meru.
The MP claimed that the group's leader then slapped him and threatened to have him killed if he didn't comply.
"He told me I you don't do what we have told you we shall chop off your head and those of your two sons and take them to your wife."
His narration sent a chill through the House, throwing MPs in panic over their security. Members demanded to interrogate police commissioner Mathew Iteere on the incident and their security accusing him of treating such incidents lightly.
The claims by Mr Imanyara came barely a fortnight after similar claims by government chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo that there were plans to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The MP claimed it was not the first time he has been threatened, saying a meeting held by certain politicians at the Landmark Hotel two weeks ago had identified a number of people who were 'not toeing the line' to be eliminated.
"I demand investigations and measures to protect those of us who were subject of discussions at Landmark after the Limuru Gema meeting," he said.
Deputy House Speaker Farah Maalim demanded a statement from the Minister for Internal Security by next Wednesday directing that he treats the matter seriously.
"This not humour and the chair takes this seriously and expects the Minister to move fast," he said as he directed the MP to proceed and record a statement with the Criminal Investigations Department.
Mr Maalim said MPs should not be intimidated at any point and should enjoy their constitutional freedoms.
The legislators scoffed at assistant minister Orwa Ojode when in response, said MPs should always use their bodyguards. Mr Ojode directed the Police Commissioner to move with speed and investigate the matter and said he can only issue a statement after this is done.
"In the meantime, I appeal to my colleagues, I have done what I can by providing each one of them with two security officers, use your bodyguards because they will come and report to me when such an incident happen.
"In their absence it becomes very difficult because anything can happen to my colleagues, otherwise with bodyguards I want to say we are safe," he stated.
MPs, however, raised complains on the choice of body-guards, some expressing fears that some could be spies and a threat to their security.
Mr Imanyara said one of the bodyguards, who was assigned to him had mental problems and had been admitted to the Mathari Mental Hospital.
Gichugu MP and presidential hopeful Martha Karua, however, said the minister's statement was in bad state since it implies Kenyans who are not privileged to have bodyguards cannot be assured of security.
Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro said the choice of bodyguards was wanting and that their role is more of reporting about MPs than protecting them.
Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba said it was obvious the country is facing a security threat with a proliferation of criminal elements and that police officers have been involved in some cases.
Nominated MPs Rachael Shebesh, Millie Odhiambo condemned tribal groupings and use of force by police and demanded that the Police Commissioner be questioned.
"We want to know whether the Police Commissioner is affiliated to one side...we don't want to speak too late and lose Kenyans and even political leaders and we want the role of tribal groupings in inciting Kenyans looked into," said Ms Shebesh.
Other legislators who raised concerns were Gwassi MP John Mbadi, Rongai MP Luka Kigen, Lari MP David Njuguna, Garsen MP Danson Mungatana, Embakasi MP and assistant minister Ferdinand Waititu and Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga.
Mr Anyanga said he has not seen his bodyguard for the last one year and demanded response from the Minister for Internal security.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1388772/-/view/printVersion/-/t3tk59z/-/index.html
Raila directs action against police boss over Limuru chaos
By ANTHONY KARIUKI
Posted Thursday, April 19 2012 at 12:58
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has ordered the Internal Security minister to take "immediate action" against Kenya's police boss after his officers blocked a youth meeting Wednesday.
In a statement, Mr Odinga also directed Prof George Saitoti to investigate alleged death claims made by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara.
The PM said the police action to violently disperse the crowd that was heading to the venue of the Limuru 2B meeting was a violation of the Constitution.
"Kenyans were yesterday (Wednesday) treated to a spectacle that they thought had been banished from their lives with their new Constitution.
"The sight of police officers putting up roadblocks on a major thoroughfare and repeatedly firing rounds of tear gas at hundreds of perfectly peaceful people caused intense alarm," said Mr Odinga.
"The police did not maintain law and order as they are required to do."
On Wednesday, the meeting called to counter recent Gema and Kamatusa gatherings turned chaotic after police blocked more than 2,000 youths who had turned up for the rally.
The officers lobbed teargas canisters and on several occasions used live ammunition to disperse the crowd.
Five people were arrested but the police could not confirm whether they would be charged in court on Thursday.
The operation was led by the Central police boss John Mbijjiwe and CID chief Henry Ondiek and lasted for about five hours before the youth informed the police that they had decided to leave the area peacefully.
The organisers of the Limuru 2B said it was aimed at bringing together Kenyans from all regions to champion non-tribal alliances ahead of the General Election. It was organised by among others, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi and former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga.
But on Thursday, Mr Odinga raised the red flag saying the scenes were reminiscent of the old order and had no place in a civilised society.
"Such police tactics are a recipe for disaster. They also besmirch the integrity of the government's commitment to uphold the law.
"They take us decades back and raise alarm to the fact that despite giving ourselves a new constitution, we are not out of the woods yet. The forces of status quo are still lurking and are ready to take Kenya back at the slightest opportunity," said Mr Odinga.
The PM said the latest show of might by the police was a pointer to what Kenyans should expect in the run up to the next elections.
"It has also raised their fears about what else might lie ahead which might curtail the exercise of their democratic rights as we head for the next election."
"Scenes of Archbishop Reverend David Gitari and former MP Hon Paul Muite, who fought gallantly for the freedom we have today, being tear gassed and shot at, will not be tolerated by Kenyans any more, nor images of unarmed youths being chased away like criminals from the scene of a licensed meeting," he added.
Mr Odinga lambasted the police for taking sides over the matter saying they had chosen to protect those out to sabotage a lawful meeting.
"It is unacceptable that police can cancel a gathering on grounds that thugs planned to disrupt it. Police indicated to the organisers that a group led by a Member of Parliament had threatened to disrupt the meeting.
"But rather than arrest those who were threatening to cause a breach of the peace, and provide security for those meeting lawfully, the police chose to assist those who were sabotaging a lawful meeting!"
Mr Odinga said the government was committed to ensuring all Kenyans observed the rule of law and were free to exercise their democratic rights.
"The action yesterday (Wednesday) sent very wrong signals about the commitment of our security agencies to a free and fair democratic process," said the PM.
"Those rights include the right by the people of Kenya to make independent political choices without intimidation or blackmail."
On Wednesday, Mr Imanyara recounted to a shocked Parliament chilling details of a night ordeal where he says he was accosted by four thugs.
Mr Imanyara said the goons forced him to pledge support to a leading presidential aspirant during the 11.30pm incident, which happened on State House Crescent Tuesday night.
He told stunned MPs that he was coerced into saying "Uhuru tuko pamoja" (Uhuru we are together) three times and told to swear facing Mount Kenya.
"I have said many times and a repeat, in the face of the new Constitution, I am willing to die but I will not accept a situation where anyone, no matter how senior or mighty directs me on whom I should support.
"I won't be party to any compartmentalisation of this country into regions and let those who think they can intimidate others know that we cannot be cowed," he said.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politi...16/-/view/printVersion/-/o0xoe3z/-/index.html
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