Nanok declines to record statement

By Augustine Oduor and Cyrus Ombati

Wildlife Assistant Minister Josephat Nanok will spend another night in police cells after he declined to record a statement at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters, Saturday.

Nanok, who was arrested following his utterances over the killing of over 40 police officers by cattle rustlers in Suguta Valley, said he would not record a statement without his lawyer.

Police sources told The Standard on Sunday that the Turkana South MP is likely to be charged in court on Monday.

And police are also looking for Labour Minister and Turkana North MP John Munyes to record a statement. However, Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro presented himself to CID headquarters to write a statement Saturday.

The three MPs spoke at a joint press conference on Friday at Parliament Building, where they criticised the decision by President Kibaki to deploy the military in the violence-scarred region.

At the briefing in parliament, Nanok had said his lawyer had traveled and could only be available on Monday.

Several friends and relatives of the MP flocked the gate of CID headquarters waiting his release.

But sources at the CID said Nanok who was arrested Friday night along Kimathi Street would spend another night at Kileleshwa Police Station.

The assistant minister is expected in Court o Monday. He was nabbed shortly after appearing on a television program.

Earlier on, Nanok had said the Government has resorted to threats and intimidation instead of finding a balanced and non-partisan solution to the issues in the region.

He said he would not write any statement because he was summoned verbally by a senior officer at the CID.

“I received a phone call from Mohammed Amin, the CID head of investigation. I will not accept to be intimidated over an issue that is disturbing all Kenyans,” he said noting that he spoke on behalf of 1.5 million people from the Turkana region.

The three MPs said they oppose deployment of the military to the region noting that it was a partisan operation.

They expressed fears that there may be gross violation of human rights if the military are sent to comb the region and recover the stolen cattle.

 “There will be gross violation of human rights in areas where these officers will be deployed,” he said.

“Innocent people are running away from their homes and schools out fear of the military,” he said.

The MPs said Kibaki will take full responsibility as the Commander in Chief for any human rights violations that will be wrought on innocent people who may be tortured.