Embu Speaker’s wife sues after he goes missing
Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo: Missing Embu Speaker Justus Kariuki Mate’s wife Wednesday moved to court seeking to compel the Director of Criminal Investigations and the Inspector General of Police to produce him. PHOTO| FILE
What you need to know:
- Ms Wangari demanded that her husband be released unconditionally and that the court should summon the Criminal investigations, IG David Kimaiyo and the Starehe District Criminal Investigating Officer to confirm whether Mr Kariuki is in police custody as well give an explanation regarding his arrest.
- The Embu County Assembly MCA’s, Runyenjes and Mbeere North Members of Parliament Cecil Mbarire and Muriuki Njagagua were present.
The wife of Embu Speaker Justus Kariuki Mate has demanded that Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo be compelled to produce her husband.
Mrs Caroline Wangari Wednesday said her husband disappeared while going to meet a police officer. She believes that Mr Mate, who went missing on Monday, had either been arrested or taken into police custody.
Mr Mate is the Speaker of the County Assembly that twice impeached Embu Governor Martin Wambora, who is challenging his ouster in court.
Wednesday, politicians from the region, including Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti, MPs Cecil Mbarire and Muriuki Njagagua, Woman Representative Rose Mitaru and Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Swaleh were among those who were at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi court when Mrs Wangari presented her case.
According to her lawyer, Mr Charles Njenga, Mrs Wangari fears that her husband could have been subjected to mental anguish and inhuman conditions or injured and that his continued holding has caused anxiety and speculation in the Embu County Assembly.
“I am advised and have reasons to believe that on May 19, my husband disappeared in the hands of a police officer, but the respondents have to the present date failed, neglected or refused to produce him in court or release him without any lawful cause,” she said.
She asked the court to summon Mr David Kimaiyo and the Starehe CID boss to confirm whether Mr Kariuki was in police custody and to give an explanation about his arrest.
However, High Court Judge Weldon Korir declined to grant her request, saying, she needs to give more information linking the police directly to Mr Kariuki’s disappearance.
“I agree with your concerns, but the court has not been given sufficient information to warrant the summoning of the said top officers. I direct that you provide more information linking the police and the arrest,” the judge said.
BAD HAPPENINGS
Mrs Wangari believes that her husband was arrested on Monday evening when he was last seen at Nairobi’s Utalii Hotel within Starehe division.
The case will be heard on May 23 by Mr Justice David Majanja.
Before Mrs Wangari and those who had accompanied her made their way to the courtroom, Ms Mbarire led the group in prayers outside the court. She prayed that the missing Speaker be found in good health and for the bad happenings in the Embu region to end.
