Tobiko orders grilling of Midiwo, Ongeri

By Robert Nyasato and Cyrus Ombati

Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo¡¯s claim of plot to kill Prime Minister Raila Odinga was roundly condemned by supporters of Foreign minister Sam Ongeri whom he alleged was party to the scheme.

But Midiwo¡¯s claim against Ongeri, which the Foreign minister vehemently denied and threatened legal action against the Gem MP, was also dismissed as a diversionary tactic from the turmoil in ODM crafted by its leaders.

And last evening, Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko waded into the debate and ordered Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere to initiate investigations into the same.

"I hereby direct you to cause immediate investigations into the said allegations to be carried out and a report if the findings thereon submitted to me without delay for appropriate orders and directions."

"Further, it is directed that Hon Midiwo and all persons he mentioned be summoned, interrogated and statements recorded as part of the investigations," he said in a letter to Iteere and copied to CID director Ndegwa Muhoro.

shock

Ongeri himself expressed shock at Jakoyo¡¯s claim and the dragging of his name into it, and warned it could well be setting the stage for him to be harmed.

In Kisii, local leaders claimed there appears to be a plan to undermine leaders from the area ahead of the General Election. They also alleged it was a ploy by ODM leaders to shift attention from their party¡¯s internal problems.

In Nairobi police revealed Midiwo will be questioned intensely today morning because he is the only person who can give them details on the alleged meeting he claims discussed the plot to kill Raila. He will also be pressed to name the high-level conspirators he claimed were in government as well as evidence to support his charge.

way forward

It is also expected that Midiwo will be asked why he chose to make the claim in public before reporting to the police or any relevant office of government his suspicions.

He will appear before head of investigations at CID Headquarters Mr Mohamed Amin. "We expect him on Tuesday (today) morning for statement taking on the allegations, from there we will know the way forward," said Mr Muhoro.

He said the information that Midiwo gave out might be useful only that it was given to the wrong audience. Muhoro assured Kenyans that the PM was a State officer whose security cannot be compromised.

Police insiders said officers from the Serious Crimes Unit, which is under Mr John Kariuki, had been ordered to take over the investigation.

They received a file containing the brief statement Midiwo recorded in Bondo on Saturday after which he promised to say more today at CID.

plot at hotel

The case was transferred to Nairobi because of claims that the alleged plot was hatched at a hotel in the capital city.

Midiwo had alleged foreign mercenaries had been hired to execute the plot and that senior government officials he did not name were involved.

On Monday Kitutu Masaba MP Walter Nyambati said the plot against Ongeri was nothing but a scheme to portray him negatively in the eyes of the international community. "The smear campaign targeted at Ongeri is baseless and bound to fail. It has become our major concern, we are not taking it lying down," Nyambati charged.

The MP said it was a cheap ploy manufactured to shift attention from the rivalry for presidential nomination in ODM between Raila and his deputy Mr Musalia Mudavadi.

Ongeri said he heard the claims uttered by Midiwo against him through the media.

Midiwo spoke in the presence of the PM and Cabinet ministers Anyang¡¯ Nyong¡¯o (Medical Services), Dalmas Otieno (Public Service) and James Orengo (Lands). "I am willing to testify under oath because if I don¡¯t say it now, nobody will," said the MP then.

He alleged that a meeting was convened last Sunday, which brought together two ministers, a senior security officer and a Permanent Secretary during which elimination of the PM was discussed as the last option in swinging the Kibaki¡¯s succession race.

Ongeri said if there was a scheme to kill the PM, those with such information should inform the government through the right channels.

"I am not a punching bag...I can¡¯t do things like the ones I am being associated with," he said.

Ongeri said on Monday that there could be a plan to eliminate him arguing that he has consistently been their target in the coalition government.

"What do they know that I don¡¯t. If they are after me let them come out clearly...my heart is very bitter with those utterances," he said.

seeking sympathy

Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito dismissed allegations saying Midiwo was playing ¡®diversionary politics¡¯ and warned him against making such statements in future.

"Nobody wants to eliminate Raila. He is a national leader but Midiwo seems to be seeking sympathy for Raila for reasons we don¡¯t know," he stated.

The Shinyalu MP said such statements are likely to cause unnecessary panic among Kenyans.

"Raila has State machinery at his disposal. He has the police, the CID and NIS, all of which have investigators who could have known if there was a plan to kill him," Mr Kizito stated.

Raila¡¯s spokesman, Mr Dennis Onyango, indicated Raila heard about the alleged plot for the first time at the funeral.

Mr Tobiko said he learnt of the issue from media reports. He said the gravity and magnitude of the allegations by the MP, particularly in this period when the country is preparing for a general election, couldn¡¯t be overemphasized.

speedy investigation

"These allegations therefore require prompt, thorough and speedy investigation to establish their veracity or otherwise."

Nyaribari Chache MP, Dr Robert Monda said the attacks against Ongeri were pure vendetta. "At one time they asked Ongeri to step down as Education Minister over unfounded claims and now we are approaching elections, the same thing is happening," Monda said.

He said Midiwo should table the evidence he has implicating Ongeri adding the Police Commissioner should have ordered his arrest.

"Either Ongeri or Midiwo should be arrested for Kenyans to know the truth, leaders must take responsibility for their public pronouncements," he added.

Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny also asked police to investigate but termed the remarks a "political gimmick". "ODM is a burning house and its leadership is looking for scapegoats but such claims could spark animosity between communities," said Kuttuny.

¡ª Additional Reporting by Allan Kisia and Osinde Obare

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