'Fundamentals' singer Ken wa Maria charged for ‘taunting’ Governor Mutua

Popular Kamba artiste Ken wa Maria was among eight people who appeared in court for allegedly leading a protest against Governor Alfred Mutua.

On December 16, the artiste, it is alleged, led a protest caravan against the governor under ‘Okoa Machakos County Forum’ banner protesting misappropriation of public funds and lopsided priorities.

The group started its demonstration at Mlolongo and Athi River where they addressed a huge gathering before heading to Chumvi at the junction of Machakos and Mombasa Road.

All this time, Mutua was allegedly keenly monitoring their movement and waiting for an opportune moment to pounce.

As the caravan, which was belting wa Maria’s hard-hitting single, Mwanake wi wa Sinema (you belong to the movies, young man) made its way past Kithini centre, barely five kilometres from Machakos town, a contingent of heavily-armed Administration Police officers wielding rifles and tear gas canisters alongside the county inspectorate team struck.

Tear gas canisters were lobbed inside the van as the protesters disembarked in confusion.

Wa Maria was the first to be handcuffed and thrown into a police van.

It was a case of friend-turned-foe since wa Maria has in the past supported Governor Mutua.

Soon, the group, which included Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama’s personal assistant George Mutinda, would find itself at Machakos Municipal Court where they were charged with destroying property worth Sh500,000 resisting arrest and using abusive language towards the police by allegedly calling them dogs.

Others charged alongside wa Maria and Mutinda were Musila Makola who is the chairman of Okoa Machakos County Forum, Kelly Mutua, a former councillor, Naomi Nduku, Peter Makau, Joseph Mathuki, and David Kimanzi.

The eight who denied committing the said offences, were released on a cash bail of Sh30,000 each. The case is set for mention on December 30. Hearing will be on January 16, 2015.

Makola told The Nairobian the demonstration was to sensitise the public on the “vicious theft” happening in Machakos County and to seek public participation and accountability from the governor.

“Mutua panicked after learning of the good reception we received from the public, but we are telling him that he should instead account for every penny. What he did was a temporary inconvenience... we are soon hitting the road more energised and in big numbers he has never seen. We will stop at nothing to make sure there is accountability,” charged Makola.

He questioned the rationale of spending Sh1 billion on fuel for county vehicles and huge electricity bills for lighting up Machakos People’s Park at night, yet there are schools with dilapidated infrastructure.

His colleague, Kelly Mutua, tore at the governor, claiming he was using the police and public funds to intimidate the “defenders of truth.”

The former councillor claimed there were shoddy and white elephant projects funded by the county government whose aim was to loot public coffers. He cited the Sh8 million toilet commissioned recently by President Uhuru Kenyatta at Mlolongo market and Sh1.2 million meant for a traders’ market at Athi River which was not done.

However, the governor’s media liaison officer Eric Kamanga was quick to dismiss the group as a bunch of street activists and political losers saying,“The governor will not be drawn into responding to every mad man in the streets.”

Kamanga referred The Nairobian to a Press statement dispatched to media houses soon after the group was arrested.

The statement described the group as a gang of rowdy and hired goons bent on destabilising Mutua’as administration for political capital.

Makola says the fight which might see collection of signatures to impeach Mutua is still on unless he changes his leadership style.