Senator Samson Cherargei records statement over weekend 'threats'

Hours after the police issued summons to Nandi Senator Samson Kiprotich Cherargei (pictured) to shed light over remarks he made at the weekend, Directorate of Criminal Investigations men stormed the legislator’s home in Eldoret and arrested him on Tuesday morning.

The detectives had surrounded the home from early hours of the morning before Cherargei presented himself up to them shortly before 10 am and was bundled into the rear of a white police Land Cruiser pick-up.

Clad in a maroon jacket, T-Shirt, a blue jeans trouser, casual shoes, a baseball cap while holding his mobile phone and a power bank, Senator Cherargei opened the gates of his Eldoret Elgon View home, shook hands with the DCI officials before boarding the vehicle.

“I know this is a politically-instigated move but we are going to triumph over it,” Cherargei said before the DCI vehicle sped off.

A youthful lawyer, Cherargei had earlier on told The Standard that officers had surrounded his home and that he was contacting his lawyers before the officers could arrest him.

The senator was then driven to the Eldoret West Divisional CID office to record a statement over remarks he made during a funeral at Lelwak in Nandi County over the weekend.

The Senator was driven towards Kapsabet, but on reaching Langas in the outskirts of Eldoret town, he was driven back to Eldoret West divisional CID office.  

Cherargei, a staunch supporter of Deputy President (DP) William Ruto, was summoned on Monday after he was captured in a short clip that has been doing rounds on social media, warning Dr Ruto’s critics of unspecified action.

Nandi East DCI Officer Rahamad Wasilwa signed the order that read: “I Rahamad Wasilwa a detective attached to Nandi East Divisional Investigation Office, I have reason to believe that you Samson Kiprotich Charargei has useful information which will assist me in my investigations.”

On Tuesday, two lawyers led by Ham Lagat accompanied the senator in Eldoret.

Lagat said that the Senator was first to be driven to Kisumu but the lawyers insisted that he (Cherargei) records statements in Eldoret, where he was arrested.

They also requested to have their client driven in their vehicle but DCI officials declined.

By noon, the senator had finished recording the statement and was whisked away to Kisumu from where he was expected to be flown to Nairobi for further interrogation.