Suna East MP seized, Cord claims Muthama, Bosire on 'house arrest'
What you need to know:
- The coalition said none of the leaders allegedly under arrest or those being sought have been served with summonses to appear before police.
- Police have not confirmed the claims.
- Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire are among those ordered by Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet to record statements at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters for alleged hate speech.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was arrested on Tuesday morning outside Nation Centre in Nairobi, moments after leaving a live interview with NTV.
As soon as Mr Mohamed got out of the building on Kimathi Street, he was surrounded by Flying Squad police officers, who had been waiting for him since 7.30am. The officers were led by squad head Said Kiprotich.
The lawmaker had been invited to NTV for a discussion on hate speech, for which he has now been arrested.
Mr Mohamed did not leave Nation Centre until his lawyer, James Orengo, arrived.
Mr Mohamed and Mr Orengo were escorted to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Kiambu Road where he was expected to record a statement concerning allegations that he and other Cord leaders made statements that amounted to hate speech.
Police officers in civilian clothing outside Nation Centre on Kimathi Street in Nairobi on June 14, 2016. PHOTO | STELLA CHERONO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed at Nation Centre in Nairobi on June 14, 2016.
'HOUSE ARREST'
Earlier, Cord had claimed that two of its leaders — Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire — had been under “house arrest” since 11pm on Monday.
Detectives from the Special Crime Prevention Unit, led by Noah Katumo, had been camping at the gate of Mr Muthama's Runda residence before arresting him later in the morning on Tuesday.
The coalition said on Tuesday that neither the two leaders nor others being sought had been served with summonses to appear before police.
Mr Muthama and Mr Bosire were among lawmakers ordered by Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet to record statements at the DCI headquarters for alleged hate speech.
“Cord leaders will meet at the Capitol Hill Square then proceed to the homes of the two leaders currently marooned by police.
“Cord lawyers and MPs will also escort those being sought to record statements with the police,” said a statement from Cord head of communications Dennis Onyango.
Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome earlier failed to confirm the alleged "house arrests", saying the hate speech cases were being handled by a different office within the National Police Service.
RECORD STATEMENTS
On Monday, Mr Boinnet ordered Mr Mohamed, Mr Bosire and Kilifi Woman Rep Aisha Jumwa to appear at the DCI to record statements.
Mr Boinnet had issued the same orders to three Jubilee MPs — Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu and Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri.
The three appeared at the DCI headquarters late Monday evening.
