I'm not a murderer, CS Munya says on Ruto murder plot claim

Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya says claims of a plot to assassinate Deputy President William Ruto are part of a witch-hunt by his political detractors.

At his rural home in Muthara, Meru County, on Saturday, Mr Munya alluded to the Bible story of Queen Jezebel who plotted to have Naboth murdered over his vineyard.

"I came home to defend myself because you might think I have become a murderer," he told a funeral.

"I am here to assure you that I have not changed. I cannot be found in a gathering of murderers. As a Njuri Ncheke elder, I know how to respect the sanctity of life."

"This is all made up. It is false witness against me, just like Jezebel did to Naboth because she wanted to grab his vineyard. This is a plot against us but God is with us. This is a political plot."

FORMAL COMPLAINT

Four Cabinet secretaries from the Mount Kenya region were summoned to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on June 24 over the alleged murder plot. The others are Sicily Kariuki (Health), Joe Mucheru (ICT) and James Macharia (Transport).

Mr Munya said that when he received summons by SMS from DCI boss George Kinoti, he first thought the message was from "pranksters at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison".

He said they will not record statements until a formal complaint is filed.

"We insist that we will meet again and again, not only at [Hotel] La Mada but elsewhere in Kenya because we have a right as Kenyans. We have not plotted to kill anyone but if he records a statement, we will go back to respond."

DEVELOPMENT TALKS

The minister noted that President Uhuru Kenyatta tasked him with coordinating Mt Kenya development talks after legislators decried slow delivery of projects.

He said other meetings had been taking place at Weston Hotel and other venues.

"I first held a meeting with MPs and then called all ministers, parastatal heads and other government officials, all totalling 45. We had met four times before the alleged assassination plot emerged," he said.

POLITICS

Earlier, Mr Munya told off members of Parliament, saying they had been politicising the murder plot claim.

Speaking during the burial of Mr Johnson Killingo, a neighbour, at Ntamichu in Tigania East, he said said politicians should allow institutions to do their work.

He also noted that the accused also deserve justice.

"You cannot give a court ultimatums. The court follows procedures. It is against the law for politicians to give the magistrate ultimatums," he said.

"Those doing that are not fit to be leaders. The courts should be given time to do their work."