MPs ask Uhuru to ‘restrain’ PS Kibicho, police
A group of Jubilee Party MPs have accused Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai of misusing security officers to fight perceived political enemies.
The more than 30 MPs particularly took issue with Mutyambai, whom they said had lost control of the Police Service, thereby allowing Kibicho to take charge.
They promised to summon the IG to the House to explain why he was allowing members of the Executive to misuse police officers for political purposes.
“We will be summoning the IG to explain whether the police have become a terror gang to terrorise political leaders supporting one wing of the government,” said Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu).
The lawmakers asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to restrain Kibicho, whom they said was abusing the powers of office under the guise of cracking down on anti-government elements.
Double standards
“Kibicho has no reverence for the people who campaigned for the government that has employed him. We belong to this government and the PS must accord us respect,” said Kimilili MP Didmus Baraza.
Reacting to the arrest of Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro on Monday night, the MPs termed the drama as embarrassing to the police and the Executive, and blamed Mutyambai for failing in his duties.
Ichung’wa said Parliament will play its oversight role and ensure that those misusing public resources are punished and surcharged for the money lost.
“We are going to propose that the kitty allocated to the police be removed from the Interior ministry since it is being misused for political expediency,” said Ichung’wa, who is the House Budget Committee chairman.
The MPs, who spoke to the press at Parliament buildings, also accused the police of playing double standards in the execution of their mandate.
They questioned why MPs Maina Kamanda (Nominated) and Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri Town) have not been subjected to the same treatment as Nyoro after they participated in the disruption of meetings addressed by their rivals in the past.
“For the police to be seen to be fair in executing their mandate, Kamanda and Ngunjiri must also be arrested,” said Isiolo Woman Representative Rehema Jaldesa.
Harass leaders
The ruling party Jubilee’s MPs have been divided into two rival camps with one side supporting the political truce between President Uhuru and opposition leader Raila Odinga while the opposing group backs Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 bid for State House.
The two groups have been moving around the country pushing their agenda. However, some of the meetings have not been without drama, as happened on Sunday when Nyoro disrupted a church function presided over by Kamanda, leading to his arrest on Monday.
Yesterday, the pro-Ruto MPs, otherwise known as the Tanga Tanga group, said they will not be cowed by the strong arm tactics being employed by their rivals.
“We are also going to ask Kamanda to quit his position as the chairman of the Cohesion Committee since he cannot be expected to preach unity while on the other hand he is busy inciting communities,” said Baraza.
The MPs accused the Executive of misusing the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to harass leaders perceived to be anti-establishment.
“We have seen the trend taking a new direction whereby anti-establishment individuals are harassed and accused of having tax issues,” Ichungw’a said.
The legislators asked PS Kibicho to quit his job and join politics “since he has indicated openly that he has an interest in the field”.
The rift between the pro-Ruto camp and those opposed to him has widened in the recent past with Kibicho’s name featuring prominently.
Earlier this year the powerful PS found himself in unfamiliar territory when Ruto confronted him at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and accused him of sabotaging his tours to launch projects across the country.
The two had met at the airport and were waiting to welcome the President back from an overseas trip when Ruto confronted the PS, wanting to know why he had allegedly instructed county commissioners and police commanders not to provide security at his functions.
Establish road blocks
Kibicho has also been involved in a spat with Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who accuses him of frustrating his administration.
But Kibicho has distanced himself from the troubles of the politicians with the National government, saying, “They have paranoia, which needs to be cured. Let them deal with their accusations and accusers. Let them carry their own cross.”
Nyoro, who was allowed to go home after spending time with the police yesterday morning, has in the past said that a confidential vote head at the Interior ministry was being misused for political witch hunt against Ruto.
“Kibicho is the person being used to establish unnecessary road blocks against Ruto. The vote head should be scrapped, as there is evidence it was being misused politically,” he said recently.
Added the Kiharu MP: “Kenyans are aware of the political missions being prepared but the majority are determined to support Ruto to assume the presidency, as it has been known by Jubilee party legislators.”
