Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has condemned police summons against former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, terming it as as a political witch hunt.
Matiang’i presentenced himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Tuesday morning to honor summons served on his lawyers yesterday.
DCI said the former powerful CS is wanted for interrogation over his claims that police raided his home on the night of February 8 and 9, reports that security bosses have denied.
But addressing members of the press outside the DCI headquarters shortly after Matiang’i made his way to Mazingira House offices, Onyonka claimed the former minister was unfairly targeted.
“Fikira yangu ni kuwa watatumia akili yao timamu na watatumia fikira zao kuhakikisha ya kuwa nchi yetu ya Kenya haitaki utawala wa kimabavu (My thought is that they will use their common sense to understand that our country Kenya does need an authoritarian regime),” the fiery Kisii politician stated.
“There is no precedence before where a minister of interior has been asked to go and write statements and be charged in court once there is a transition for activities he conducted when he was in office,” he added.
He said if Matiang’i has done anything wrong he should be arraigned in court instead of being harassed by the state.
“If indeed there are any crimes that hon. Matiang’i has committed let him receive due process. Let him come and write a statement and discuss with the DCI what the issues are. If they find there is anything let him be taken to court and I know he has the capacity to defend himself,” Onyonka stated.
Onyonka was among politicians affiliated with opposition’s Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition who accompanied Matiang’i to the DCI headquarters on Monday.
Others are former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugine Wamalwa and Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo, who also doubles up as a lawyer.
The CS was also flanked by a team of more than 12 advocates led by Danstan Omari.
DCI seeks to probe Matiang’i over allegations of publication of false information contrary to section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act 2018 amongst other offences in regard to alleged invasion and raid of his residence.
“I have reasons to believe that you, Fred Matiang’i, the former Cabinet, Ministry interior and National Co-ordination is connected to the offence or has information that would as me in my investigations,” Senior Superintendent of Police Micheal Sang stated in a letter summoning Matiang’i.
“I hereby compel you Matiang’i to appear before me at DCI Headquarters Kiambu Road at Mazingira House on February 22, 2023, at 9:30 am without fail. Failure to comply with the requisition constitutes an offence liable to prosecution.”
According to Sang, the former Interior CS could have published false information regarding the alleged raid, hence the need to question him.
The former CS jetted back into the country on Saturday night after a two-week trip to the United Kingdom (UK) to attend to an “urgent private family matter”.
