Police probe political link to killings in Western

By Standard Reporter

Nairobi, Kenya: A senior politician’s brother was reportedly questioned by police in Bungoma over the recent spate of killings in the county.

The revelation came as Deputy President William Ruto chaired a top security meeting in his office in Nairobi, Monday.

The man, whose name we cannot reveal yet for legal reasons, is said to have been grilled at the Bungoma Criminal Investigations Department (CID) offices from 10am to 5pm over the wave of killings that has swept through Bungoma and Busia counties.

Sources say he was asked to report again to the CID offices Tuesday. Reports also indicate police are seeking a former MP as they investigate claims the announced a total of 228 people have been arrested and questioned as investigations intensify over the

Nineteen people implicated in the attacks on villages will be charged with the killings and injuries caused to villagers in the two counties

Nine people were hacked to death and more than 100 seriously injured by marauding gangs who descended on the villages under the cover of darkness in trucks.

Police say they are pursuing some politicians who could have been behind the unprovoked spate of robberies and killings.

Monday, Deputy President William Ruto chaired a high-level security meeting, where the total number of people arrested and questioned over the killings was revealed.

Ruto told the security team to “do everything within their powers” to apprehend anyone who is involved in crime.

Security meeting

Those who attended the meeting included Internal Security Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo, the two deputies to the Inspector General of Police Grace Kaindi and Samuel Arachi, Deputy Director Criminal Investigations Gideon Kimilu Lt Gen Samson Mwathethe, vice chief of Defence Forces also attended the security meeting.

Separately, Bungoma Central Kenya National Union of Teachers Executive Secretary Fredrick Shichangi led leaders who claimed the attacks were planned and demanded answers from politicians.

“We are seeing a political hand in the attacks. Our investigations indicate that some politicians are fanning crime as a revenge after failing to get votes from people they are targeting in the thuggery,” said Mr Shichangi.

Last week a high-powered delegation of top security officials led by Deputy Inspector General of Police Grace Kaindi visited Bungoma and held a close door meeting with local security officers over the matter.

Western PC James Ole Serian said the security apparatus was investigating some leaders.

“We are investigating politicians and I want to assure residents that we would take action on anybody that evidence pointed at irrespective of his status in the society,” he told journalists.

However, Western Regional Police boss Alfred Ombaba emphasised that their investigations were not limited to politicians.

“Police have arrested eight suspects in Bungoma and four others in Busia and arraigned them in court in connection with the killings,” he said.

“We are not targeting any individual or class in our investigations but if the evidence points towards certain people then we will go after them,” he added.

Bungoma County Commissioner Jamleck Baruga said calm has returned to the region and cautioned leaders against engaging in a blame game.

“Suspects are arrested and later setfree by the courts because residents are not willing to give evidence in court yet they blame the police for their release,” he explained.

Tempers flared at a funeral in the County when politicians and Knut officials clashed openly over the cause of runaway crime in the area.

Addressing mourners at the burial of former Knut Bungoma branch Executive Secretary Mr Jeremiah Lusweti at Toroso village in Sirisia Constituency, leaders led by Senator Moses Wetang’ula differed with Sichangi and his team over claims the recent attacks on residents was politically motivated.

Wetang’ula said the crime was as a result of incompetency by the police and even linked an assistant chief to the attacks.

“A chief has been arrested for being a member of the criminal gang terrorizing our people, but together with other suspects who were recently released by the police from custody, he is free again under mysterious circumstances to continue terrorizingthe locals” claimed the Senator.

He challenged the Government to rise up to its core mandate of providing security for the people.

But Sichangi disagreed with him saying: “We are perturbed that these killings are going on after the recent General Election. Can the politicians tell us here and now what is happening because we believe they know it?”

MPs Eseli Simiyu, John Waluke, James Lusweti and former Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli termed the attacks criminal. Separately, Deputy President Ruto’s meeting was told officers from the Special Crime Prevention Unit had been sent to the Coastal region to profile criminal activities linked to the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC).

Ruto was told the ongoing security operation in Garissa has been successful so far with illegal aliens having been returned to refugee camps and others sent back to their countries.