Nairobi, Kenya, Mar 9 – Interior Cabinet secretary Kithure Kindiki has warned that any individual who attempts to illegally access security establishments in any part of the country will be prosecuted.
Kindiki said Thursday that any person regardless of their rank in the society who threatens the officers on duty at government facilities will equally be held accountable.
He was reacting to Tuesday’s event during the interrogation of his predecessor Fred Matiangi where some politicians including Azimio leader Raila Odinga caused disturbances when he threatened to mobilize people to forcibly access the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters.
Kindiki described Odinga’s actions as impunity maintaining that all security establishments and facilities must be respected by all persons including politicians, their supporters and sympathizers of suspects.
“Going forward, any person regardless of their rank in society who threatens to forcibly access security facilities or intimidate officers on duty will be dealt with firmly, ruthlessly and decisively in accordance with the law,” Kindiki said.
The Interior CS directed all security agencies to ensure that security facilities remain protected areas and not become a theatre for politics or unlawful behavior including unauthorized access.
CS Kindiki said the respect for the rule of law, constitutional organs, independent offices and the protection of the country’s security facilities from political and other extraneous interferences apply to all without exemption and without regard to political affiliation.
During Tuesday’s incident Odinga was denied access to the DCI headquarters where he had gone to express solidarity with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi.
Odinga who arrived accompanied by several other leaders were demanding to go see the DCI boss Mohamed Amin over the issue.
After close to 20 minutes standoff at the gate with the guards refusing to allow him in, a senior DCI officer came and asked him to leave arguing that Odinga’s presence was causing more chaos.
Odinga had protested saying he should not be stopped from accessing the premises threatening to force himself in.
“This is a public office. You want me to order this people(supporters) to open the gate by force. I have a right to go see the Director (Amin). I have a right to go inside,” a visibly angry Odinga asked.
The senior officer maintained that none of them would be allowed in citing “consultations is on high level” pleading with Odinga to be patient.
During the ensuing melee, security officers drawn from the ATPU and their police counterparts beefed up security around the gates and a motor vehicle driven to the entrance blocking the gates.
It took the intervention of lawyer Dunstun Omari to convince Odinga to leave the premises.
