Ruto allies in Central remain defiant after Nyoro released

MPs address the media at Parliament Buildings in support of Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

More than 50 MPs have accused the State of using the police to coerce them to withdraw their support for Deputy President William Ruto.

Speaking separately in Murang’a and at Parliament Buildings yesterday, the MPs declared they would not be intimidated by State machinations to force them to support opposition leader Raila Odinga.

They spoke after the State failed to charge Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro after his dramatic arrest on Monday evening.

The Tangatanga wing of Jubilee Party, which backs Ruto’s quest to succeed Uhuru, claimed police were being used to settle political scores, citing the arrest of Nyoro. 

Nyoro, Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata, MPs Gichimu Githinji (Gichugu), Isaac Mwaura (nominated) and Alice Wahome (Kandara) addressed a series of meetings in Murang’a town after his release.

“We knew this was coming, we had been told that we have to toe a certain line or face the music. This is a wider scheme to force us to abandon our political stand but I want to state categorically that I’m following what my constituents are telling me,” said Nyoro.

Dragging Raila 

Dragging Raila into the feud, Nyoro claimed that there were Government operatives who were pushing leaders in central Kenya to support the former Prime Minister politically following his handshake with Uhuru.

“I wish to let the likes of my elder brother Maina Kamanda know the truth... that selling Raila Odinga in Mt Kenya region is difficult. The deputy president’s chances are very high, so don’t force us to do what is not practical,” said Nyoro, referring to Sunday’s clash with Kamanda at a Church in Kiharu that triggered his arrest.

Nyoro claimed that some Government operatives had been scheming to shepherd Mt Kenya to Raila’s camp.

“They are trying very hard to make us sell Raila in our backyard which is a very hard-sell. No amount of intimidation will make me change my mind on my political stand,” Nyoro declared.  

At Parliament Buildings, Ruto-allied MPs trained their guns on Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho who they claimed was behind their political woes.

The about 50 MPs accused Kibicho of using state machinery to intimidate politicians perceived to be backing Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.

They claimed that the PS had taken over the role of the Inspector General of Police (IG) and that he was deploying police officers to harass and silence political leaders with opposing views.

They challenged Kibicho to join politics instead of using State machinery to fight those he is opposed to.

“You either relinquish your position and put on the uniform of IG and use police force to fight those holding contrary opinion or better still, resign and join politics,” said Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah.

They also took a swipe at IG Hillary Mutyambai, accusing him of taking sides in political wars instead of keeping the police service neutral.

Senator Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) claimed that the police service has been politicised and is being used to harass those opposed to the government of the day.

He called on the IG to resign accusing him of surrendering the National Police Service to individuals at the Office of the President (OP).

“Mutyambai, can you come clean and tell us whether you are the one running the National Police Service or you have surrendered it to Kibicho. If the IG has surrendered the National Police Service to functionaries at the OP then he can resign,” said Cheruiyot.

The MPs further claimed that other State agencies such as Kenya Revenue Authority were also being used for political persecution of individuals seen to be close to Ruto.

Harassing people

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa said it was ironical that the Jubilee administration had resorted to harassing the same individuals who worked so hard to put it in power. He likened the latest development to a hyena which decides to eat its own children.

Naivasha MP Jane Kihara vowed to continue drumming support for Ruto.  

In Murang’a, Wahome said leaders in Mt Kenya region would resist all attempts to force them to change their political stand on Ruto ahead of 2022.

“It is embarrassing that 150 General Service unit officers were sent to arrest an MP. We are not going to do what they want but we will listen what our constituents are telling us,” said Wahome.

“Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and his PS Karanja Kibicho, are being used by political forces to intimidate those with independent minds,” she said.

After a dramatic arrest on Monday night, Ndindi walked free yesterday after the State failed to press any charges.

Despite police in Murang’a earlier indicating that the MP would face three criminal charges, Ndindi appeared before a magistrate court yesterday morning only to be told that there was no case against him.

Nyoro was accompanied in court by four MPs and hundreds of supporters.

Review file

In court, the MP was informed that the IG had directed that his file be reviewed by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for direction.

Nyoro’s lawyers told Resident Magistrate Sheila Nyaga, that police were yet to furnish the DPP with investigation files as the law demands.

Wahome, who appeared for Nyoro, informed the magistrate that police had failed to bring the charge sheet.

The magistrate directed Nyoro to wait and see if any charges would be preferred against him.

“For now there are no charges preferred against Nyoro, he should await if they will be brought to court,” said Nyaga.