Nasa leaders report to DCI offices after High Court order

From left: Businessman Jimi Wanjigi, Siaya Senator James Orengo and Makadara MP George Aladwa when they appeared at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters on orders of the High Court on February 8, 2018. PHOTO | FRED MUKINDA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Among those at the DCI were James Orengo, Jimi Wanjigi, Simba Arati and Mr George Khaniri.
  • Lawyer John Khaminwa said they intended to see the directorate’s boss George Kinoti but he was not in office.
  • He added that they were attended to by a legal officer.

Opposition legislators were turned away by police when they sought to have their statements recorded over the protest 'swearing-in of their leader Raila Odinga as the people’s president.

Their lawyers John Khaminwa and Nelson Havi escorted them to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters and asked to see the director, Mr George Kinoti, but he was not in office.

They were received by a legal officer who told them they would neither be questioned nor their statements recorded.

COURT
Police had earlier told the legislators not to visit the headquarters because they were not “persons of interest”.

Dr Khaminwa explained their presence at the DCI headquarters: “I want to emphasise that a judge made an order that we come here. We obeyed. Orders of magistrates and judges must be respected.”

Mr Nelson Havi added: “The court was clear we bring them here so that they can be questioned.”

In response to the court orders issued by judge Luka Kimaru on Tuesday, police issued a statement saying:

“The National Police Service wishes to state that neither Hassan Joho, Jimi Wanjigi, David Ndii or the nine others who have sought anticipatory bail are being sought as of now in connection with commission of any crimes.”

BAIL

It added: “Those individuals should therefore not bother turning up at the DCI offices. They are not persons of interest to the B as of now.”

Besides Mr Joho, Mr Wanjigi and Dr Ndii, others are ODM executive-director Oduor Ong’wen, MPs Babu Owino, Cleophas Malala, George Aladwa, Gladys Wanga, George Khaniri, Norman Magaya and Simba Arati.

The 12 moved to court and successfully applied for anticipatory bail to cushion them in the event police moved to arrest them.