Police: Officers at Manyatta MP Mukunji's home 'were on patrol'

By  George Munene

Contributor

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

• The officers camped at the MP’s gate for hours seeking to establish the lawmaker’s whereabouts.
• The presence of the officers caused panic at the homestead as they remained there for several hours.

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji resurfaced on Sunday evening, accusing police of laying siege to his home over Saturday’s violence at Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s meeting in Embu.

The uniformed and police officers in civilian clothes had been at his home in Mutunduri as early as 6am, allegedly waiting to apprehend him.

“Sending such a big number of police to my home is unnecessary. There is a better way to use the police. A simple summon to any police station is enough. This is pure misuse of taxpayers’ money,” Mr Mukunji wrote on his Facebook page.

The MP said he was away from home attending a Sunday service in Mwea Ward, Mbeere South Constituency, when the officers arrived.

“Police came home but I had already left for church. I’m now in church, let them come and arrest me,” he said.

Heavily armed officers, some in plainclothes, had surrounded the MP’s rural home in Mutunduri a day after hostile youths attempted to disrupt Prof Kindiki’s meeting at Nembure Stadium in Embu County.

The officers camped at the MP’s gate for hours seeking to establish the lawmaker’s whereabouts following the violence that erupted during Saturday’s meeting.

The presence of the officers caused panic at the homestead as they remained there for several hours.

However, Eastern Regional Police Commander Stephen Chebet denied claims that police were looking for Mr Mukunji.

Asked why officers were deployed around the MP’s home, Mr Chebet said they were conducting patrols to maintain peace in the area.

“The officers were patrolling Mutunduri and the MP’s home area is not restricted,” he said.

Mr Chebet, however, said police would question the MP if investigations established that he was linked to the violence.

“If it is established that the MP is responsible for the violence, then we shall visit him,” he said.

The police boss confirmed that several suspects had been arrested in connection with the chaos at Nembure.

“I can confirm that we are holding some suspects and we are compiling the list,” he said.

The reported police presence at Mr Mukunji’s home came a day after violence disrupted Prof Kindiki’s meeting at Nembure, where one person was killed and several vehicles were torched.

The Deputy President strongly condemned the violence, saying the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) regretted the loss of life and damage caused by youths who attempted to disrupt the party meeting.

“I condemn violence and demand that law enforcement agencies take punitive measures against all those responsible for perpetuating political violence,” Prof Kindiki said.

He stressed that UDA stood for issue-based politics and a contest over which party had a better development record and policy agenda for Kenya, rather than forcing political support through “lies, violence and useless slogans.”

“Our party leadership in Embu has been tasked with verifying the exact nature of the loss and damage, and to coordinate responses to stand in solidarity with all those adversely affected in one way or another,” he said.

The violence has since escalated political tensions in Embu, with Mr Mukunji denying involvement in the disruption while accusing the government of targeting him.

Meanwhile, Prof Kindiki has asked the Kenyan electorate to accord President William Ruto a fair assessment based on his development record and not the vengeful narrative waged by his opponents in next year's General Election.

The DP, while outlining the Kenya Kwanza Administration's performance scorecard in the last four years, said President Ruto had exceeded the expectations of his critics in the designing and implementation of transformative development projects and programmes, aimed at growing grassroots economy and empowering millions of Kenyans to rise from poverty. 

He also hit out at the critics of the Government, accusing them of inciting anger and hatred against the President, instead of offering alternative policies.

“When you ask them to table alternative policies and development programmes, they tell you ‘Kasongo must go’. When you ask them what plans they have to help millions of young people across the country looking for jobs, they say ‘soprano’ and other useless things. How can such people be trusted with the leadership of our country? How can such clueless people be an alternative for President Ruto who has a solid plan that envisages Kenya beyond 2030? Let us be fair to President Ruto,” he said.

According to Prof Kindiki, opponents of the Ruto administration had given the Government 6 months to collapse under the weight of public debt and economic pressure, but innovative policies and interventions had managed to save the economy from a total shutdown.

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