Waititu questioned over Ruto utterances, Azimio denied access

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu. [File, Standard]

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was on Monday arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) along the Northern Bypass.

Waititu was taken to DCI headquarters where he was interrogated for hours in the company of his lawyer Ndegwa Njiru.

According to Njiru, his client was interrogated over a speech he made at a concert in Ruiru.

“Honorable Waititu was arrested by DCI officers for an alleged utterance at Ruiru on Sunday,” he posted on X.

Waititu spent the night at the Pangani Police Station and Ndegwa said he would be arraigned in court today to face charges relating to cybercrime.

At the concert, the former governor accused President William Ruto of demeaning him and other leaders who worked hard for his election, and now he (Ruto) chest thumps himself and talks with pride.

Waititu said that he had found new respect for Gen Z for their protests that led to the fall of the Finance Bill 2024 and saw a reshuffle of the cabinet that saw several ministers fired.

“And whatever he was saying that the protestors were paid, it is a lie, no one was paid to protest, did you get any money,” he posed to the attendees.

He accused Ruto of using proxies to privatize the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport through Adani Holdings and others including the Kenyatta International Convention Centre which was recently stopped by the High Court.

Azimio leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, Jeremiah Kioni and Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo were yesterday denied access to Waititu during his interrogation at DCI.

They said that they had come in solidarity with Waititu but also as part of his legal team.

Musyoka faulted President Ruto for the denial saying that he should know that he has lost the support he once enjoyed across the country.

“Obviously, the instructions [to deny them access] came from Director Mohamed Amin and he too has received instructions from Douglas Kanja or Kithure Kindiki and all of those instructed by William Ruto whether he is in the country or not.”

He said that they had not been given any reason why they were denied access to their client and it was surprising to them that the DCI officers came dressed in civilian clothes and masks while carrying teargas canisters.

“That is now the standard operating rule of abductors, and we will not allow that, you can take that to the bank.”

According to the leaders, Waititu was picked up by masked men and bundled into a Subaru, which they described as an abduction and not an arrest.

“They are saying that we have come with young men, and yet they are the ones with the young men with masks on,” said Jubilee SG Kioni.

“If it was a question of thuggery, you can actually see which side it is coming from.”

According to Kioni, President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration have been wearing 'masks' and anytime they remove them they lie to Kenyans.

DAP Kenya leader Wamalwa said that Musyoka was supposed to lead Waititu’s legal team owing to his seniority.

“When a senior arrives he takes over and that is why Senior Counsel Musyoka was here today, and it is very shameful that an institution like this one can behave in a primitive manner like they have today,” he said.

“They are not just dealing with lawyers; they are dealing with the 10th vice president, who is also a senior counsel, they are dealing with Wamalwa, a former Minister for Justice, and we are being treated like hooligans at the gate.”

He said that DCI offices are public and should be open to anyone, especially lawyers with briefs to represent their clients.

“We are telling the DCI boss and his team, they will answer for this, we are not going to leave it here and also we are not going to be intimidated because the intention is to harass the opposition, particularly on the issue of abductions.”

Wamalwa said as Azimio they will not stop addressing and calling out the matter of justice for all the victims who have been abducted by the DCI and other rogue masked officers.

“Today we have seen the Subaru’s, we have seen the officers in masks.”