Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa is among leaders wanted by police for grilling over chaos that were witnessed at a burial event in Limuru, Kiambu County.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was present at the event and escaped unhurt. His cars were however damaged.
Several other mourners were injured when suspected goons attacked the event forcing those in attendance to scamper for their safety.
Police said they are investigating the matter. The team based at Nyeri Regional Criminal Investigations offices summoned Thang’wa to appear there on Friday, November 29 without fail.
"They refuse to meet us at the CID headquarters on Kiambu Road but summon us to Nyeri over an incident that occurred in Limuru. This intimidation will neither intimidate nor silence us. See you in Nyeri tomorrow at 10 am," Thangwa said.
Police are investigating claims of malicious damage to property and injury to persons.
The incident
happened on November 28 at the Bibirioni Boys High School playground.
Thang’wa is among a section of leaders allied to Gachagua
who on Thursday evening visited the Directorate of Criminal Investigations
(DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road in a bid to demand a quick probe into the chaos
that was witnessed earlier in the day during the burial in Limuru.
They said the chaos witnessed at a burial event
seemed well planned.
Thang’wa and his Nyandarua counterpart John
Methu said the chaos was a direct attempt on the life of the former DP.
They added that ex-Limuru Member of Parliament
Peter Mwathi was arrested by police officers in the process.
According to Thang’wa, the violence was
orchestrated by hundreds of goons ferried from neighbouring constituencies by
agents of the State in order to harm Gachagua.
He said upon their arrival at the DCI, they were
turned away without as much as being given a listening ear.
They addressed journalists outside the gates of DCI.
“We came here to demand for swift investigations
of what transpired today in Limuru Constituency where an attempt on the life of
Gachagua was carried out by hired goons by the government. Because we truly
believe it was a well-planned incident, and the reason why we’re saying that is
because there were some 200-300 goons from different areas of this country, not
necessarily from Limuru, that attacked Gachagua,” said Thang’wa.
“We also came here because we wanted to find the
whereabouts of the former MP for Limuru Peter Mwathi because he was abducted by
men in Subarus. So we came here to find out where
they took him. We have not been given any information, they actually never
listened to us. The Director of Investigations told us he could not listen to us
and walked away.”
Methu said he had spoken to Gachagua after the
incident, noting that the former DP barely escaped the scene with his life.
He went on to condemn the DCI for denying them an audience on the whereabouts of ex-MP Mwathi, adding that the action has
rendered his family restless.
“Gachagua is lucky to be alive today. He’s still at home, I’ve talked to him and you can feel that he’s not okay. What we would want to say is that if those people who are doing these things want to test our resolve, we’re extremely determined to speak for our nation,” said Methu.
Mwathi’s wife Dr. Anne Mungai, on her part,
narrated the events leading to her husband allegedly being taken away by police
officers.
She said Mwathi’s vehicle was sandwiched by two
Subaru vehicles, leading to him being taken away, as she pleaded with the
government to release her husband.
“Mine is just to ask the government to release my
husband because he went for a funeral, he has attended many other funerals in
Limuru. He has served the people of Limuru diligently and he was abducted by
force,” stated Dr. Mungai.
"The vehicle that he had gotten into so that he
gets out of the chaos was sandwiched by two Subarus that had no number plates,
so definitely that’s the government. So may the government release my husband.”
There was no immediate comment from police over
the chaos.
Gachagua insinuated that the State had
intentionally withdrawn his security detail to facilitate such an attack.
"Earlier this week the government withdrew
the final aspects of my security that was in place after the impeachment
process we are contesting. We did not raise the issue with this decision although
expectations were that any Kenyan who has served at the level of government
that I was privileged to serve at, would be secured by the government even after
leaving office," he said.
"However it now looks like the decision to
withdraw my security was to leave me exposed to the kind of attack we have
witnessed today."
Gachagua recounted the incident at the funeral of a young man named Erastus Nduati, noting that goons specifically targeted him and descended on mourners with all manner of crude weapons, indiscriminately attacking both women and children.
"Today, I was at a funeral service in
Limuru for a young man called Erastus Nduati. While we were preparing to lay
the young man to rest goons attacked us & the other mourners who were
present, including children. The gangsters were armed with stones, machetes,
iron bars & sticks," he said in the X statement accompanied by
pictures of one of his vehicles damaged during the incident.
"They descended randomly on mourners
present and attacked them using the weapons they had. A specific group
followed me as I went to my car, which they proceeded to attack with stones and
iron bars. We literally drove out of the venue under a hail of rocks!"
Gachagua condemned the government's alleged role in the incident.
"This is very sad state of affairs and a
major low for the state, who were clearly complicit in these actions. We just
especially remember the family that had a loved one in a casket, who had to run
to safety despite their profound grief," he said.
"We will not be scared away from standing
with Kenyans who need us to support them in their moments of need. We just
expect such a terrible moment of shame will not be repeated."
