Crackdown on NASA starts with Kajwang’s arrest

Kajwang and Miguna Miguna were at the centre of events at Uhuru Park that culminated in the symbolic swearing-in of Mr Odinga [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Ruaraka MP Tom Joseph Kajwang’ was yesterday arrested over what the State termed his role during Tuesday’s ‘swearing-in’ of NASA leader Raila Odinga as the ‘people’s president’.

The legislator, who stood behind Raila during the event held at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, was arrested at Milimani law courts yesterday afternoon and taken to the headquarters of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Grilling session

His colleague, Peter Kaluma, said he too had been summoned by police but did not say why.

Mr Kaluma was with Kajwang’ when he was ordered to drive to the DCI offices by the arresting officers.

The officers trailed him from the courts for what other officers said were grilling sessions.

At the headquarters, a team of detectives has been set up to investigate alleged illegal activities that took place on Tuesday.

The arrest came less than an hour after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i announced that the authorities were investigating the Uhuru Park events.

“What was witnessed at Uhuru Park was a well-choreographed attempt to subvert or overthrow the legally constitutional government of Kenya,” Matiang’i said without elaborating.

The CS had on Tuesday declared the National Resistance Movement (NRM), a wing of NASA, a proscribed group, giving indications of plans to start arresting those ascribing to it.

Kajwang’ and lawyer Miguna Miguna were at the centre of the events at Uhuru Park that culminated in the symbolic swearing-in of Raila.

As Mr Odinga took the ‘oath’, Mr Kajwang’ stood right behind him, although his role in the exercise remains unclear.

It is not clear what the authorities plan for the leaders.