Arresting Mutea Iringo would embarrass him, says IG David Kimaiyo

Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo. (Photo:File/Standard)

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has said he will not arrest Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo despite a court order, since by doing so, it will embarrass him.

Kimaiyo said instead they are working on ways of ensuring the issue is sorted out amicably.

“We do not want to create a situation where the government is embarrassing the government or maybe we are not taking due consideration. There are several processes and procedures that he (Kimaiyo) also has to observe because it is not like the Principal Secretary has gone into hiding,” said police spokesman Masood Mwinyi.

He indicated Iringo will in the end be in court to defend himself as required by the court.

“You can be rest assured that it is not that he has said no or that he has declined but that appropriate action will be taken at the appropriate time,” he added.

He added the stand was not taken in defiance of the judge’s order, which would be enforced “in an appropriate manner, at the appropriate time”.

Mwinyi was informed by journalists had it been that a similar situation faced an ordinary Kenyan, police would have jumped to action and arrested him or her.

Mwinyi made the remarks at the IG’s office Tuesday when he gave a briefing on the security situation in the country.

High Court Judge Justice George Odunga had Monday restated a directive to Kimaiyo that Iringo should be arrested and presented before him to explain why he should not face contempt charges for his ministry’s failure to pay Sh31.6 million awarded to Tanzanian national James Koroso for false imprisonment and torture.

It is not the first time a warrant has been issued against Iringo for failure to honour a court summons.

In December 2013 he failed to appear in court to explain why a Sh727,706 had not been paid out to former constable Mwanza Mukoma for unfair dismissal and prosecution for theft.

Police who had been ordered to arrest and bring Iringo to court said they had not been told by their superiors to do so.

“How can you arrest a PS? We are waiting from our bosses,” said an officer who had been waiting to be given orders to act.

Police have in the past been accused of defying orders themselves whereas they swore to protect and effect it.

Tuesday, Mwinyi asked the public to submit their views on how they would want the Service Standing Orders to be.  The draft on the orders is already out and the public has until March 18 to submit their views.