Uhuru, Ruto quizzed on Raila death claim

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto have been questioned over allegations of a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Read (Midiwo alleges plot to kill PM)

Police said the two leaders were not being treated as suspects and were interviewed because they were mentioned by ODM Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo, who made the claims.

Ministers Njeru Githae (Finance) and Sam Ongeri (Foreign Affairs) also had their statements taken by officers investigating the matter.

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

He later recorded a statement at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, Nairobi, on the basis of which detectives questioned Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and Mr Githae.

“We are focusing on the issue that is the plotting and the assassination, allegedly by known persons. It’s in the interest of the public to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and so we don’t have to investigate this matter forever.”

He added that several other people, all of them politicians, had been linked to the assassination allegations and that his officers will interview them.

The investigation will however neither seek to interview Mr Odinga nor his security detail.

“There is no reason to interview the Prime Minister based on the statement of the report made to the police. That would not be necessary since its does not show the PM was privy to the matter before it was made public,” Mr Muhoro said.

Findings of the investigations, as well as recommendations would be forwarded to director of public prosecutions Keriako Tobiko for direction in accordance with the law.

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

At the funeral, Mr Midiwo mentioned Foreign Affairs minister Prof Sam Prof Ongeri and his ministry.

“The gravity and magnitude of the allegations, particularly during this period when the country is preparing for the next general election, cannot be overemphasised. These allegations therefore require a prompt, thorough and speedy investigation to establish their veracity or otherwise,” the DPP said in a letter to police commissioner Mathew Iteere.

Police began investigating the matter hours after the MP made the remarks and an officer at Bondo police station was instructed to summon Mr Midiwo and record his statement.

The legislator, however, left the station that Saturday without his statement being recorded was and he informed the officers that he intended to formally file the claims at the CID headquarters in Nairobi.

Mr Tobiko said police findings should be submitted to him “without delay for appropriate orders and directions.”

Mr Tobiko’s letter was labeled “very urgent” and copied to CID director Ndegwa Muhoro.

Prof Sam Ongeri has dismissed Mr Midiwo’s claims saying his style of politics is founded on professionalism and Christianity.

“Allegations made by Mr Midiwo are wild and baseless. If he has anything to tell Kenyans, he should come clear and say it.”

Mr Midiwo alleged that a meeting was held a fortnight before he dropped the bombshell attended by two ministers, a senior security officer and a permanent secretary during which elimination of Mr Odinga was discussed as the last option in swinging the presidential succession race.

The Gem MP claimed mercenaries had been hired to carry out the plot.

He spoke in the presence of the PM and Cabinet ministers Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o (Medical Services),  Dalmas Otieno (Public Service) and James Orengo (Lands) during the burial of Dr Leah Gondi in Bondo District.

Contacted afterwards, Mr Odinga’s spokesman Dennis Onyango said the PM heard about the alleged plot for the first time at the funeral.

Mr Midiwo, however, said the President was not in the picture about the plot.

Claims of alleged assassination plots against Mr Odinga have been made in the past.

In February last year, ODM MPs claimed that two foreign mercenaries – “Paul” and “Thomas” who were likened to the Artur brothers — were in the country to execute a plot. They claimed that the mercenaries also targeted four other leaders.

Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo first made the claims, saying their targets included Mr Odinga, National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende, MPs Olago Aluoch, Ababu Namwamba and herself.

However, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere allayed fears over the PM’s security even as he ordered police commanders in the districts to deploy reinforcement whenever the PM is visiting their areas.

In 2006, Mr Odinga alerted the country to the presence of what he described then as “Russian mercenaries,” who turned out to be the controversial Artur brothers, Artur Sargasyan and Artur Margaryan, who were later linked to attack at Standard Media Group.

On June 8, 2006, they were involved in gun drama at the JKIA during a confrontation with Customs officials and the following day, they were deported.

A commission of inquiry headed by retired police commissioner Shedrack Kiruki was constituted to probe into their activities while in the country. Its report is yet to be made public.

Last year, a diplomatic cable released by whistle-blowing website Wikileaks said a Cabinet minister had indicated that Mr Odinga was likely to be assassinated if he won the 2007 presidential elections.

Prof Ongeri has said he has instructed his lawyers to take appropriate action over Mr Midiwo’s allegations.

The Nyaribari Masaba MP said he will not take the matter lightly.

However, Mr Midiwo has, however, challenged him to go ahead adding that he was prepared for a court battle any time.

The Gem MP asked Prof Ongeri to tell Kenyans what was the subject of the meeting he attended about a month ago at Serena Hotel with a minister from Central Kenya and a few other people.