Retracing missing Embu Speaker Justus Mate’s last moments

Justus Kariuki Mate.

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU and CYRUS OMBATI

Kenya: The search for missing Embu County Assembly Speaker Justus Kariuki Mate entered its fifth day Thursday, with police still groping in the dark.

There were more questions than answers even as police charged their colleague, a CID officer based at Pangani Police Station, with abduction. Family and friends of Mate initially alleged that police were reluctant to arrest the officer, and had instead held his bodyguard and driver for questioning.

However, Nicholas Muriuki Kangangi appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Milimani yesterday  and was charged with abduction with intent to unlawfully confine Justus Kariuki Mate on May 19, 2014.

Kangangi was released on a Sh100,000 cash bail and ordered to appear in court on Monday next week for further orders before the case is heard on July 9.

Private meeting

There was more speculation after an unmarked lorry slammed into Mate’s driver’s car along Kiambu Road moments after he left the police station where he was interrogated.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is constantly being briefed on the progress of Mate’s search. The Speaker served as one of his aides when he was the chairman of Kanu.

Police are yet to establish whether Kangangi lured Mate with the aim of harming him after it emerged that the he had made several telephone calls asking the Speaker for a private meeting ostensibly to share “some sensitive information”.

On Sunday, Kangangi sought to meeting Mate allegedly to share sensitive information on how the Speaker’s detractors were plotting to fix him over his role in the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora.

It was then that the two agreed to meet at Thika Road’s Blue Springs Hotel. Accompanied by a friend, Mate arrived and waited for the CID officer. The officer then called and asked whether he was alone. Realising that the Speaker had company, he reportedly asked to postpone the meeting to the next day (Monday).

On the fateful day, the officer asked Mate to meet him in the city centre, prompting Mate to skip a workshop session at the Utalii Hotel and rush to the city. When he called once he arrived in the central business district, Kangangi said he was meeting someone at Harambee House and asked him to wait.

Consequently, Mate went to Parliament and spent some time in National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s office. Mr Muturi was abroad at the time and Mate met his Parliament counterpart’s aide.

After a while, the officer called and asked if they could meet either at CID headquarters or Shark’s Place along Kiambu Road. He also suggested  Choma Zone on Thika Road. But because Mate was running late, he asked that they meet at Utalii Hotel.

Mate’s colleagues say he received a phone call at 4:30pm from Kangangi and thereafter walked away from the ongoing workshop and has not been seen since.

Sensitive matters

Kangangi has been grilled alongside Mate’s driver and personal assistant in connection with the disappearance. An officer aware of the case said the CID officer planned to meet Mate at Choma Zone but the Speaker never showed up.

“He (Kangangi) says they were to meet and discuss sensitive matters but he waited for him from 5pm to 8pm in vain. So he decided to leave,” said the officer.

Mate once worked for the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority before serving as a personal aide to President Kenyatta. He also acted as a personal assistant to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi when he was the Government Chief Whip.

Before his election to the position of Speaker, Mate worked in the Team Uhuru secretariat in the 2013 General Election. He then retreated to Embu when he was elected Speaker.

Nairobi head of CID Nicholas Kamwende said they have no clue about Mate’s whereabouts.

“If any one has information regarding this matter, let him help us. For now, we have no clue other than what you have heard,” said Mr Kamwende.

Investigators have also grilled workers at the Utalii Hotel and Choma Zone. Those at Choma Zone confirmed that Kangangi was there with two other people and left at about 8pm. Those at Utalii said they managed to record the number plates of the car that is alleged to have picked Mate up from the hotel.

“But the details are not helping so much,” said Kamwende without elaborating.

Some Members of the Embu County Assembly want police to investigate how Mate went missing on Monday from a hotel where they were meeting.