Sudi in court to quash State order on his security detail
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi has filed an application seeking court orders to suspend the decision by the government to withdraw his personal security.
Through lawyer Kipkoech Ng’etich, the legislator questioned the legal foundation of the move by the Inspector General of Police to remove his security.
Appearing before Nakuru Senior Resident Magistrate Isaac Orenge, Sudi claimed his personal security detail was withdrawn immediately after his arraignment for alleged hate speech and offensive conduct.
According to Kipkoech his client’s security detail received verbal communication to report back to his work station without further explanation.
Kipkoech termed the move as ill-motivated and meant to expose his client to insecurity and disenfranchise his services to his electorate.
He wants the court to order the Inspector General of Police to reinstate Sudi’s security pending hearing and determination of the application or in turn summon the IG to explain why he made the decision.
“My client has been without security for a month now and we urge the court to grant our prayers as he is entitled to one as per the Constitution,” said Kipkoech.
Reinstate security
Kipkoech argued that his client being a lawmaker, he was entitled to security adding that no consultation was made or a notice given by anyone from the National Police Service (NPS) over the matter.
While citing article 47 of the Constitution which spells out rules of fair administration, Kipkoech noted that since the MP interacts with a number of people, he needs security.
“My client runs on toes with some of the supporters and opponents on the ground.
He is now in the limelight because of the case he is facing. Withdrawal of security was prejudging him and is unfair, his life may be in danger,” added Kipkoech.
However Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Daniel Karuri opposed the application and urged the court to strike out the matter.
Karuri noted that he was unable to respond to the application arguing that he was served with the application while in court.
He maintained that security is strictly out of the prosecution’s jurisdiction and urged the MP to directly contact the IG for the same.
“The prosecution’s work is to strictly deal with prosecuting a case, the issue of security is out of our jurisdiction.
For this we urge the court to dismiss the matter because it is not related to the case in question,” said Karuri
The Inspector General had on January 20, through the Director of Corporate Communications, pronounced that the National Police Service (NPS) shall not provide security to VIPs who are involved or suspected to be involved in crime until they are cleared by the courts. The magistrate will rule on the application today at noon.
