Police yet to probe Suleiman Shahbal over 'vote theft' remarks

Mombasa: Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers in the county have not investigated politician Suleiman Shahbal’s alleged remarks on rigging 2017 General Elections.

The officers have instead claimed that Nairobi police have launched investigations into the remarks.

On January 4, the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko ordered DCI to launch a criminal investigation against Shahbal after a video clip showing the politician saying that Jubilee will win the 2017 polls through fair and foul means, including stealing, went viral. Shahbal was speaking at a meeting hosted by Deputy President William Ruto at Pwani University.

The politician, who immediately left for Dubai, returned last week but it was not clear if he had been interrogated.

Last week, Mombasa DCI boss Henry Ondiek told The Standard that Shahbal would be interrogated in Kilifi, where the alleged crime was committed. However, Kilifi police now say they have had no role in the matter.

Shabaab Attack

Shahbal has not been seen in public since his return. However, he has been updating his Facebook page regularly, including extensive comments on last Friday’s Al Shabaab attack on Kenyan soldiers in Somalia.

On Tuesday, he posted: “The season of political violence in Mombasa is back,” in reference to recent stabbings and shootings of youths at political rallies in Mombasa.

Yesterday, Kilifi DCI officers said detectives from Nairobi are in charge of the matter.

Kilifi DCI boss John Ndungu yesterday said a team of detectives flew to Kilifi to gather information about the matter, on a day he did not mention.

It is not clear what the detectives were looking for or who they met.

“CID officers from Nairobi have opened up an investigation over the remarks made by Shabbal that Jubilee party will win the election by all means even through stealing votes,” said Ndungu.

The politician defected to Jubilee mid last year, two years after losing the gubernatorial race.