By Patrick Beja
MOMBASA, KENYA: The Government says that anybody with information regarding the death of former Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and five others should have given it to the Kalpana Rawal Commission of Inquiry.
Government Spokesman Muthui Kariuki has also denied claims that Prof Saitoti, his assistant Orwa Ojode, their bodyguards and pilots could have been killed by forces behind drug trafficking.
“Claims about drugs is a long running narrative and should not have cost the life of Prof Saitoti and the others in the plane crash,” Kariuki said.
He, however, failed to give any hypothesis on the death of Prof Saitoti at a press conference at his Mombasa office on Friday.
The Standard Group has run an expose in Kiswahili titled Ghururi ya Saitoti and Death in 10 Minutes by Mohamed Ali and John Allan Namu that showed there could have been foul play in the death of Saitoti. The journalists have so far received threats.
KTN report
On Friday, Kariuki attempted to downplay the expose, claiming it was a fabrication and diversion allegedly being fronted by personalities that were shy or unwilling to appear before the Rawal commission.
“It would have been prudent for the evidence collected to be brought before the commission for canvassing and interrogation by the counsels present and the interested partners to ascertain their veracity,” Kariuki said.
He said the Rawal commission report was now out and could be accessed through Government websites.
“Further, the Government has instructed the relevant authorities to take up the recommendations as a matter of urgency so that justice can be dispensed,” he said, on Friday.
Kariuki, at the same time, claimed media personalities were not sensitive to the plight of the families affected in the Saitoti saga. “They should exhibit a sense of humanity by exercising responsible journalism while handling reportages of this nature. We are aware of the freedom of the press which we promote and uphold but every freedom carries responsibility,” he said.
