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DCI speaks out over Ruto ‘threats’ to Mutua

Tuesday, December 17th, 2019 12:40 | By
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua addresses journalists at a past presser Photo/Tabitha Mbatia

By Emeka Mayaka and Zadock Angira

The claim by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua that Deputy President William Ruto and two high-ranking Jubilee politicians threatened him is yet to be corroborated by independent witnesses, detectives said yesterday.

Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said preliminary investigations had not revealed a clear offence.

DCI headquarters said apart from the allegation that he was threatened, Mutua had not given additional and credible evidence to corroborate what he said.

Mutua said he was threatened by Ruto on December 11 and received similar threats on November 25 from Leader of Majority  in the National Assembly Aden Duale and his National Assembly counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen.

Mutua claimed Ruto told him: “Umekua ukinichapa sana na lazima sasa nikugonge...Nitakugonga.” (You have been attacking me and now I must hit you back... I will hit you).

A police source yesterday said the focus was on the credibility of claims, which could only be established by interrogating other independent witnesses and getting additional evidence.

“We will not investigate without witnesses. It remains a claim. He mentioned Raila (opposition leader Odinga) was seated nearby but he is not mentioned in the statement.

The governor said everyone saw him being threatened but did not give specific names,” the source said.

Mutua had said the DP spoke to him in an angry tone and that he told Raila and four other senior government officials who were around about the threats. He, however, did not mention that in his statement.

Again, police say Mutua neither gave the specific names of the people he said were around nor gave names of additional independent witnesses to corroborate his allegations.

Contacted yesterday, Mutua, however, said he was ready to provide the details if asked to do so. 

“I narrated to them what happened and I expect them to call me to give them more details including the witnesses when they start investigations,” he told People Daily.

Direct attack

“The procedure is they first contact the individuals I mentioned to have threatened my life before summoning me to help me with investigations. I know they are taking the matter seriously,” said the governor who had declared that he would run for the presidency in 2022.

Mutua had also claimed that Duale had warned him that if he did not stop attacking Ruto, he (Duale) “would deal with the 50,000 Kambas living in Garisssa. 

This, detectives say, was not a direct attack on Mutua. Though Governor Mutua insinuated the threats were aimed at his life, an intention to harm or kill him, preliminary investigations revealed that the alleged threats did not meet the requirement of ‘threat to kill’ under Section 223 of the Penal Code.

Duale and Murkomen have dismissed Mutua’s threat claim, wheareas the DP remains quiet. 

In Machakos a section of residents staged a demonstration against the DP. 

Carrying anti-Ruto placards, the demonstrators asked the Ministry of Interior to beef security for the Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader.

 who linked the alleged threat to his stand against corruption and demand for integrity in national leadership.

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