Oparanya yet to record statements as MCA denies involvement in arson allegations

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. [Photo, File]

Mahiakhalo MCA Joab Mwamto has been grilled close to five hours by detectives over inflammatory utterances that led to members of the public to burn a trader’s house.

Mwamto who was summoned alongside Governor Wycllife Oparanya to record statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) denied any involvement in the arson.

The MCA insisted that he is the one who was calming the angry mob after a body of a nine-year-old girl was recovered from the trader’s water tank.

An officer privy to the ongoing investigations said Governor Oparanya had requested for more time as he was held up in Nairobi barely a week after he was took over as the Chairman of the Council of Governors (CoG).

The officer who sought anonymity further said the Governor had opted to record his statement at the DCI Headquarters in Nairobi owing to his busy schedule.

The two leaders were summoned two weeks ago to explain their involvement in inciting the public to violence on diverse dates between March 14 and 18, 2018 in Kakamega Township.

This was after a body of Shirlene Mwanzia aged nine, who had been reported missing was discovered in a tank of water belonging to one Salim Salehe Mohammed.

The minor who was a standard three pupil was abducted moments after playing with her peers on March 11, 2018, and efforts to trace her became futile.

Neighbours are said to have heard a foul smell making them mount a search at the estate, attempts which led them to discover the girl’s decomposing body inside Salehe’s water tank.

The DCI believes that the two leaders who visited the area after the incident fanned the violence that saw a storey building of the complainant be set ablaze thinking that he had a hand in the abduction and murder.

 “I have a reason to believe that you are connected or have information that may assist in the investigations of a criminal case reported by the complainant. I hereby call upon you to appear before the Regional DCI Headquarters on January 18 to answer questions in relation to the alleged offence,” read the letter written by Detective Eric Kisakwa.

The DCI in his letter said the two had told the locals to evict and or kill the complainant.

The investigators shall forward the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for direction whether the two shall face charges of incitement to violence.