Police arrest five people over death of MCA Minito

Five people were today arrested at Donyo Sabuk funeral home where they had gone to view the body of the Churo/Amayo MCA Thomas Minito, who is suspected to have been murdered.

The five were whisked away to Donyo Sabuk police station before being driven off to Nairobi for further questioning by detectives, moments after an altercation ensued between them and Tiaty MP Asman Kamama who had arrived at the funeral home earlier.

Mr Kamama accused the five, who arrived at the morgue some minutes after he had viewed the body, of having sinister motives.

“They are not relatives of the deceased, they have come here to shed crocodile tears,” he told homicide detectives who then ordered their arrest.

BODY FOUND
The body of the MCA, who had gone missing, was first spotted by children lying on a rock under the infamous Athi River bridge located at the border of Machakos and Kiambu counties at around 4pm Thursday.

Speaking to Nation, residents said they heard pupils screaming while crossing the bridge on their way from school and upon checking, saw a man’s body lying on a rock beneath the bridge.

“The body was lying partially in water. It looked like it had just been thrown into the river. I called the police and went back to work,” Mr Solomon Kamolo, a boda boda rider and resident of the area, said.

WOUND ON THE HEAD
Another resident, Mr Ambrose Ngigi, said the man was fully dressed and bore what looked like a fresh wound on one side of his forehead.

“The body was probably dumped a few hours before it was spotted. It was not hidden inside a gunny bag or paper bag, it was just lying there.

"It could not have been swept to the spot by the river since the water levels are too low. The police later retrieved the body and took it to Donyo Sabuk funeral home,” Mr Ngigi said.

Mr Kamama condemned the murder of the MCA, terming it a hi-tech extra-judicial execution by people who are properly trained.

“It was not conducted by amateurs because the manner in which the late MCA was picked from the hotel all the way to Donyo Sabuk and what happened in between is shocking. He appears to have been hit with a blunt object,” he said.

SAFETY
Mr Kamama called on security agencies to investigate the incident to avoid a repeat.

He added that the incident was a clear demonstration that the security of politicians was not guaranteed.

“Politicians should not be murdered in this manner, the Interior CS and Inspector-General should assure them of their safety,” he said.

Mr Kamama also called on Baringo residents to treat the issue as an isolated incident and remain calm.

“This matter is being handled by the police. The MCA was picked up from a hotel in Baringo but what transpired later has nothing to do with Baringo as the incident took place far away from Baringo.

"Anyone trying to imagine they can revenge, is missing the point.”