Police grill Baringo Speaker over banditry

Baringo County Assembly Speaker William Kamket on Thursday recorded a statement at Kabarnet Police Station following claims he was supplying bandits in Tiaty with guns.

Mr Kamket appeared before the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers and was questioned on the allegations.

Speaking to the press at Kabarnet police station, Mr Kamket said that he was summoned by the county criminal investigation officer, Festus Malinge, on allegations that he was behind the supply of ammunition to youths in Tiaty Sub-County used to attack neighbouring communities.

“The officers are saying that no one has come to record statement on the same but they are just relying on intelligence reports,” said Mr Kamket.

The speaker, however, distanced himself from the claims noting that he was a law-abiding citizen and could not engage in search activities.

“That is an attempt by my political opponents to malign me before the next elections,” said Mr Kamket.

Mr Kamket is seeking the Tiaty Parliamentary seat on a Kanu ticket against incumbent Asman Kamama (PDR) and Reverend Symon Kiuta (Jubilee).

It is not the first time Mr Kamket is finding himself on the wrong side of the law.

In 2014, with two other MCAs Nelson Lotela (Silale) and Daniel Tuwit (Ripkwo), he was charged with conspiring to commit murder but were set free by an Eldoret court.

Mr Kamket had also been accused of uttering inciting words in Ameyan, Nginyang division in Tiaty Sub County.

On the other hand, Mr Lotela had also been charged with incitement to violence on the same dates and within the same area.

In 2015, residents from the insecurity volatile Arabal of Baringo South Sub-County demanded for the ouster of the Speaker.

According to their petition, they said the speaker was unfit to hold any public office on grounds that he had violated the law and miserably failed to avoid conflict of interest and that he had conducted himself in favour of his personal interest by supporting cattle rustling.