Kenyan MP in sex saga grilled amid calls for action

Kenya: Outraged Kenyans want action taken against two MPs implicated in sexual harassment allegations that have further dented the integrity of the National Assembly, which was already reeling from bribery and extortionist claims.

Yesterday, Imenti Central MP Gideon Mwiti was grilled for six hours over claims he assaulted and raped a woman in his private office in Westlands, Nairobi on Saturday night.

Mwiti was questioned by detectives at Gigiri Police Station from 11am to 5pm, after which he left in a police car. Officials said they were headed to a doctor to pick samples from him for tests.

The MP was summoned by the police following allegations by a former journalist running a PR firm that he assaulted and raped her in his private office in Westlands.

Another MP is also caught up in claims that he harassed a female colleague during a recent tour of Japan.

Yesterday, female university leaders and the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) demanded that action be taken in the two cases.

The NGEC asked Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett to start investigations on the rape allegations against Mwiti.

The commission’s chairperson Winfred Lichuma said the allegations were disturbing and unfortunate.

“We condemn the heinous act in the strongest terms possible. Sexual gender-based violence is on the increase by review of media reports and no excuses are acceptable. It is further disturbing that a lawmaker would be the suspect,” Lichuma added.

Kenya University Female Student Leaders Association (KUFSLA) gave the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko a 72-hour ultimatum to act on the complaints, failure to which they would organise national protests.

 TESTING SAMPLES

KUFSLA Chairlady Irene Kendi said: “If nothing is done within the set deadline, we are going to organise a nationwide mass action and march to all the offices dealing with crime in this country, including State House.”

Kendi said the other MP accused of harassing a colleague during a recent tour of Japan should also face the same fate for disrespecting and insulting a female leader.

“We elected these leaders to protect the rights of women but not to molest, attack and sexually violate them. It is the high time men stop intimidating women sexually and start protecting them as sisters, wives and daughters,” she said.

Yesterday, Mwiti emerged from the interview room at about 5pm saying he would cooperate with the police in the investigations. He insisted he neither assaulted nor raped the woman.

Initially, Mwiti had claimed they were with the woman at Njuguna’s Restaurant along Waiyaki Way with some of his constituents, but changed tune yesterday and confirmed he met the victim for almost six hours at Pizza Garden and his office.

“Yes I was with her from about 5pm to 1am and we left Pizza Garden and ended up in my bar in Krishna building. There were many people there,” he claimed.

“When I am called to give samples for testing, I will do so. I don’t fear because I know the truth,” Mwiti said, insisting the onus is on his accuser to prove the allegations and explain the motive of the allegations.

Mwiti said he had known the woman for long and they had a business relationship.

He claimed after they parted at 1am, he tried to call her to know if she was home but her mobile phone was off.

The MP appeared before Gigiri head of CID Daniel Kandie who took over the case from his colleagues at the Parklands Police Station.

Mwiti was accompanied by some of his office staff, a personal assistant and two lawyers who left three hours after he began recording his statement. This was after police conducting the grilling refused to allow them into the interview room.

A 29-year-old woman has recorded a statement with police, saying Mwiti raped and assaulted her in his office in Westlands on Saturday night. The woman was still at the Nairobi Women’s Hospital yesterday. Her husband told The Standard that the MP had on Sunday called him almost five times seeking a meeting to resolve the matter.

The incident happened when his wife met Mwiti in the MP’s office to sign a contract for some public relations work she was to do for him.

Mwiti refused to comment on allegations that a doctor forcefully took blood samples from the woman before the rape.

Police said they would also record statements from the doctor, identified as only Dr Mwangi operating in Ngara.

The officers said they were also looking for three men said to have been with Mwiti when the incident happened. “As usual, police will be impartial in ensuring there is justice and truth. We don’t take rape allegations lightly,” said Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue.

Last evening, detectives visited the office where the incident happened as part of their investigations. The woman said she was introduced to Mwiti by her husband who is a property valuer and who has also recorded a statement with police over the incident. He narrated how he tried to locate his wife after she informed him Mwiti was drunk and wanted to rape her in his office.