CORD links Wetangula’s attack to political stand

BY JAMES MBAKA

NAIROBI, KENYA: Coalition for Reforms and Democracy(CORD) has condemned the gun attack on Bungoma senator-elect Moses Wetangula, terming the incident a botched political assassination plot.

The CORD-Principal who  was re-elected in the Bungoma senate seat during the December 19 by election escaped unhurt when gunmen shot at his car along Mbagathi road near city mortuary while heading home on Thursday night.

CORD Members of Parliament and Senators who addressed the press in Nairobi said the Thursday night incident in which Wetangula’s car was shot at by unknown assailants was an indication that the jubilee administration had failed to manage security of the country

Senators James Orengo (Siaya), John Munyes(Turkana), Henry Ndiema(Trans Nzoia)  and Suba  MP John Mbadi said they were saddened that no senior government official had called the senate minority leader-designate over the incident.

The leaders attributed the incident on Wetangula’s firm political stand and his latest attack on the government over the controversial standard gauge railway tender.

“It is an act of assassination or preparing us for more, Wetangula has spoken loudly about insecurity in Bungoma and the corruption claims in the railway tender project and he perhaps could be the target of some elements who want to perpetuate corruption,” Orengo claimed

CORD claimed that the attack resonated with the pattern where over the years the country lost prominent political leaders on incidents that appear to be mere acts of thuggery but deep inside shrouded with assassination plots.

“We do not think we are ready to witness any more political assassination of a senior politician like Wetangula to pile the list of many past mysterious and unresolved deaths of prominent leaders,” Mbadi said

They urged police to immediately conduct thorough investigations into the motive of the shooting and make public a report of the reasons behind the attack.

Speaking for Wetangula, Senator James Orengo claimed that the Bungoma senator-elect ‘s security was illegally withdrawn last year even after Wetangula had expressed fears for his life upon receiving threatening short mobile phone messages(SMS).

”Wetangula who has been talking about corruption in the railway project last year received messages warning him of dire consequences if he did not hold his horse,” Orengo claimed.

He further said the Inspector general of police had not responded to a letter from Wetangula, written in October, in which he wanted his security beefed up following the string of threats.

“The Officer in charge of Kilimani police station alerted the OCPD Kilimani area about the incident but the senior officer or any other high ranking colleague did not show up at the station even after we left at around 1am Friday morning,” Orengo said.

Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) leader Raila Odinga who was recording a TV programme at the carnivore joined his CORD co-principal at the Kilimani police station following the incident which occurred at around 10pm Thursday night.

“Up to now despite the tragic incident Wetangula, a senior political leader in the senator has not received any official call from the government  or any senior police officer,” Orengo charged.

Munyes asked the government to call Wetangula and say sorry and urged the administration to learn the ropes to manage security of the country to protect Kenyans and their properties as president Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto swore.