By Steve Mkawale.
Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara has alleged a plot to eliminate him after four people accosted him on Tuesday night along State House Road in Nairobi.
Recounting his ordeal to a shocked parliament on Wednesday, Imanyara said the men who intercepted his vehicle forced him to pledge support for a presidential aspirant at gunpoint.
They ordered him to switch off his car engine, step out and kneel down with his both hands raised in the air while facing Mt. Kenya, narrated Imanyara.
"They then asked me to repeat the following word; eUhuru Tuko Pamojaf three times, which I did," said the visibly shaken legislator.
Imanyara said the incident took place at Crescent on State House Road near State House-Nairobi between 11.30 and midnight.
He claimed his tormentors vowed to chop of his head and deliver it to his wife and children if he attended two meetings-in Limuru and Meru.
"I was warned against attending the Limuru 2B meeting and a public meeting in Meru that Prime Minister Raila Odinga is scheduled to preside over," the MP claimed.
Imanyara who was seeking a ministerial statement over the threats against him, suspected the incident on Tuesday night might be linked to two meetings held at Landmark Hotel in Nairobi and attended by some members of parliament.
"The meeting identified some leaders including myself as being stumbling block to some political agenda but am willing to die for defending the constitution and I will not allow some MPs to force me to support certain individuals with presidential ambitions," MP vowed.
"I will not be cowed and I will not be stopped from implementing this constitution. The Government must investigate this incident and state what measures it is taking to protect the people," said Imanyara.
Internal Security and Provincial Administration Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode rattled the House when he insinuated that MPs were to blame for not making use of security personnel deployed to guard them.
"This is a sensitive matter but I would like to urge my colleagues to make use of their body guards. In the absence of the body guards it is difficult for police to establish such incidents," said Ojode amid protest from members.
Gichugu MP Martha Karua shot up on a point of order accusing Ojode of taking the matter lightly and wondered whether with such an attitude police would carry out conclusive investigations.
His claims come hot on the heels of another made by Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo who has recorded a statement with detectives over allegations of an assassination plot against Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
In his Statement@to the police, Midiwo implicated Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret MP William Ruto.
Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. Sam Ongeri has also recorded a statement on the same issue.
On Monday, Imanyara said the choice of the bodyguards detailed to guard MPs was wanting citing an incident where he was allocated a security officer with a mental problem.
"I was given a bodyguard who was later found to be mentally unsound, he was a Mathare (Mental Hospital) case," said the MP.
His Turkana Central counterpart Ekwe Ethuro accused the ministry of failing in assuring Kenyans of their security.
"This Government has failed to provide security to Kenyans and their properties. This is a serious matter but the minister is taking it casually," said Ethuro.
MPs Ababu Namwamba, Millie Odhiambo-Mabona and Rachel Shabesh accused the police of contributing to some incidents of insecurity and in some instances being used to attack elected leaders.
Shebesh said a number of incidences on excessive use of force by police and conspiracy are well documented and asked the Speaker to ensure that the substantive Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti was in the House to deliver the ministerial statement sought by Imanyara.
Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim directed the ministry to respond to Imanyara claims by next Wednesday.
