Tobiko has final word on Raila assassination claim

By Cyrus Ombati

The fate of four politicians and a permanent secretary interviewed over alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga now lies with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko.

Detectives handling the case were preparing to hand over the file on the investigation to Mr Tobiko today after "talking" to all those mentioned in the alleged plot.

Police were also seeking an appointment with a son of a senior politician and a senior security chief.

Tobiko will decide if there is a case that merits to be investigated further or if those mentioned should be charged.

So far, the detectives who were led by CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro have questioned Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Finance Minister Njeru Githae and his Foreign Affairs counterpart Prof Sam Ongeri and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

recorded statements

They all recorded their statements last Thursday. Trade PS Karanja Kibicho, too, recorded his statement on Monday.

"We intend to close this file by Wednesday (today) and move on," said Muhoro.

He added those who have recorded statements were not being treated as suspects and were interviewed because Mr Midiwo mentioned them.

Midiwo claimed at a funeral in Bondo on April 7 that there was a plan to kill Raila.

He later recorded a statement at the CID headquarters, Nairobi, on the basis of which detectives questioned those mentioned.

The investigation will, however, neither seek to interview Raila nor his security detail.

Tobiko had directed the police to speed up the investigation leading to the questioning of Midiwo and other persons he mentioned as being privy to the alleged conspiracy.

At the funeral, Midiwo asked Prof Ongeri and his ministry to clarify the role of alleged foreign mercenaries in the plot.

"I am willing to testify under oath because if I don’t say it now, nobody will," said the MP in Raila’s presence.

Midiwo alleged that a meeting was held, 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 succession race.