Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala surrenders to police

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala surrendered himself to Kakamega Central Police station this morning to forestall earlier plans to have him arrested.

Malala, who arrived at the police station moments before 9.30 am, had indicated that he would present himself to record a statement over the chaos the rocked Matungu parliamentary by-election on Thursday last week.

The lawmaker was captured on video at a polling station confronting ODM leaders including Homabay Woman representative Gladys Wanga at Bulimbo Primary School tallying centre.

Amani National Congress candidate Peter Oscar Nabulindo clinched the seat followed closely by ODM’s David Aoko Were with United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Alex Lanya finishing a distant third.

The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has formally written to the Inspector of Police Hillary Mutyambai to investigate the chaotic incidents that marred both the Matungu and Kabuchai mini-polls and report to him within 30 days.

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala displays IEBC material, money and special masks which were being dished out to voters by a rival party's agents at Mwira area in Matungu during the Matungu by-election. [Photo by Benjamin Sakwa, Courtesy]

The Standard could not immediately establish whether Malala had received a summons to surrender with the senator indicating that he did not want to wait for the police to go for him.

So far, former Sports CS Rashid Echesa, who was captured on camera in an altercation with an IEBC official at one of the polling stations in Matungu, has since been arrested and is expected to be arraigned in connection with the incident.

Police have also withdrawn licensed firearms and bodyguards from Nandi senator Samson Cherargei and MPs Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Wilson Kogo (Chesumei) and Nelson Koech (Belgut) who were arrested in Kabuchai on the voting day.

By the time of going to press, Malala was still being interrogated by police in Kakamega.

It waits to be seen whether he will be detained or released after writing a statement.