Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama wants MPs who assaulted him punished

Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama will take action against MPs who manhandled him and his colleagues at Parliament Buildings on Thursday.

Speaking for the first time since the incident, Muthama said they had no plans of causing fracas in the House. “We came to lobby our fellow members.

The Speaker ordered us to leave and instead of waiting for us to leave peacefully, they started attacking us physically,” he said.

Muthama spoke yesterday at Nairobi Hospital where he visited Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati, who was also injured in confrontations between the two opposing coalitions. Arati said his finger was bitten by Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri.

CORD senators had gone to the National Assembly to witness debate on the Security (Amendment) Bill when Speaker Justin Muturi ordered them to leave the House. Muthama was accompanied by Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula, Kakamega Senator representative Bonni Khalwale and nominated senators Elizabeth Ongoro and Judith Sijeny.

“What happened was a big shame for this country. It is unfortunate for a civilised country like Kenya to see those who are supposed to be leaders and custodians of the law are the ones engaging in public fighting,” Muthama said.

“Even if we refused to leave, there are guidelines on how to handle us. They should have called in the police and open charges against us,” he said. Muthama said he identified all MPs who attacked them.

“The firs MP who came to attack me was (Bahati’s) Ngunjiri and Joseph Kiuna (Njoro) who was pulling my right legs,” he said. Muthama who was injured in the incident said they have recorded a statement with the police.