Nairobi, Kenya, Mar 9 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki says government will respect the decisional independence of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the ongoing investigation on former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi home raid claims.
Kindiki said Thursday that the entire investigation process on Matiangi has been conducted professionally and in a manner that reflects the policy guidelines of handling criminal investigations and how suspects of crime should be treated by the police.
“The Government will equally respect the decisional independence of the DPP and should any person be prosecuted as a result of these investigations; the Government shall respect the outcome and decision of the courts,” he said.
The Interior CS stated that Matiangi appeared at the DCI offices on a day convenient to him, a departure from what he described as dramatized night raids during the last regime.
He highlighted that the former security boss was asked to indicate his convenient day and time upon his arrival when he would be available.
“Fellow Kenyans, this is a major departure from how the Police have treated suspects of crime in the previous Administration, especially if these suspects were politically exposed persons. Such suspects would be apprehended at night, inhumanely mishandled in the presence of family members and guests and treated with high drama,” he said.
Kindiki pointed out that it is the policy of President William Ruto’s administration to treat all suspects of crime with dignity and handle them with respect to their fundamental rights and freedoms as guaranteed by the Constitution.
He indicated that the night raids, inhumane treatment and dramatization of arrests are not a part of the policy of President Ruto’s criminal justice system
“Violation of these policy guidelines will attract punitive actions against culpable officers,” he said.
Additionally, Kindiki said that the Government is developing guidelines to improve the speed of recording statements, to ensure suspects “are not only treated humanely and respectfully, but also served expeditiously.”
The Interior CS said the guidelines will form the service charter for all security agencies charged with investigating crime and processing suspects for arraignment.
He added that these standards shall apply to all persons under investigations regardless of their rank and standing in the society on the basis of equality guaranteed by the Bill of Rights in the constitution.
“Further, the government policy will entail the absolute respect for the rule of law, regard for all constitutional organs and respect for all independent offices of our country,” he said.
