Police officers surrounded former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s home on Wednesday night, February 8.
In an address to the press, his lawyer Dunstan Omari claimed that the elite officers sought to arrest the former CS.
“My client is holed up as if he is a former fugitive in his own country. This is a former Minister in charge of security and the police. Civility must be retained.
“We can’t have a rogue government that comes at midnight to arrest the former CS,” stated the lawyer challenging the government to summon him for questioning.
The lawyer further maintained that the former CS’s life was in danger and argued that the police should have been sent to the home during day time.
“They want to arrest our client, but no offence was disclosed. I can confirm to every Kenyan in this country that the life of Matiang’i is at risk.
“We do not know the intention of wanting to invade Matiang’i’s home at this time of the night. We don’t know where they want to arrest and take him.
“Our client is ready to be summoned to go and appear before any police station and record a statement if they have anything to charge him with,” he added.
Omari also confirmed that 200 lawyers had pitched camp at Matiang’i’s home and were determined to confront the police till morning.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also visited Matiang’i’s home and condemned President William Ruto for misuse of power.
Raila questioned the elite squad’s decision to visit the home deep into the night instead of waiting to resolve their issues legally and through the right channels.
“I have just received information that the police had surrounded the home of the former Interior Minister Matiang’i, and I was shocked to hear that this is happening at this hour.
“They say that the more things change, the more they stay the same. We are witnessing what this country has been through before. The times of late-night arrests and detentions of people without any formal charges. This is what appears to be coming back to our country,” the former Prime Minister told the press.
He further called on the police to formally inform the former CS of his crimes and offer him a chance to present himself before the authorities.
“We are here, we will stand with Matiang’i or anybody else to ensure that the law in this country is respected,” he affirmed.
The former Interior CS was often at loggerheads with Ruto during the latter’s tenure as the country’s deputy president.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE