Police officers are currently surrounding the home of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’I in Karen, according to his lawyer Danstan Omari and Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga.
said the life of the former CS is at risk.
“They want to arrest our client for no offence disclosed. I can confirm to any Kenyan in this country that the life of our client ( Matiang’i) is at risk. We don’t know the intention of wanting to invade Matiang’i’s home at this time of the night,” Omari said.
While rebuking the ‘action’, the agitated lawyer says the former CS deserves respect and dignity.
“We don’t know where they want to arrest him and take him to. We don’t know what offence he has committed. Our client is ready to be summoned to go and appear before any police station and record a statement if they have anything to charge him with.
“My client is holed up as if he is a fugitive in his own country. This is a former minister in charge of the security. This is a former minister in charge of the police. Civility must be retained. We can’t have a rogue government that comes at the midnight to arrest the former CS.
“If they want the former CS, and that’s what we’re telling everybody, we will avail him,” Omari said.
On his part, Raila who has also arrived at Matiang’i’s home, and asserted the claims, has expressed his shock.
“I’ve just received information that police have surrounded the home of former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and I was shocked to hear that this is happening at this hour of the day. We are now witnessing what this country has gone through before; the times of late-night arrests and detentions of people without any formal charges.
“This is actually what appears to be coming back to our country because if Mr Matiang’i committed a crime, he’s a Kenyan and he lives in Kenya. There’s time to serve him with a notice to appear before a police station.
“There’s no reason why police should be coming to somebody’s private residence at this time of the day when people are asleep. This means that the police themselves are actually guilty of committing a crime.
“This idea of arresting senior citizens at this hour of the night is something that is completely poignant to civilizations. This is completely unacceptable in our society,” Raila told journalists at Matiangi’s home.
After addressing the journalists, Raila reiterated the same via his social media platforms where he promised to stay at the former CS’s home until the matter is resolved.
Other leaders who have rushed to Matiang’i’s Karen home over the incident include Kisii governor Simba Arati, Kibra MP Mwalimu Peter Orero, and Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni among others.
