Police have arrested Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel for allegedly assaulting Nominated MP Sarah Lekorere on Monday.
Lempurkel was apprehended on Tuesday at Parliament police station, where he had gone to collect a P3 form in his case against Lekorere.
He was taken to Kileleshwa police station.
Lempurkel is said to have slapped and kicked Lekorore in the stomach during an altercation at Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery’s office.
Nairobi police commander Japheth Koome said on Tuesday that he will spend the night in police cells before appearing in court.
Koome
said police have not concluded investigations into the matter but that there was enough evidence to charge the MP. He did not specify the charges.
“No one is above the law. If you commit a criminal offence, you will be arrested and charged,” he told the Star by phone.
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Female MPs push for action
Six female legislators have piled pressure on the government for Lempurkel's
prosecution, saying he should not have sent Lekorere an abusive message and that women should be respected.
The MPs condemned Lempurkel for sending the message, asking Lekorere to withdraw the assault case, quit politics and drop her political ambition for the Laikipia North seat in 2017.
"We want women seeking political seats to be respected and given space. We won't tolerate anyone... Women should be given a chance in leadership," said Murang'a woman representative Sabina Chege.
The legislators said Lekorere should be given additional security because her life is in danger following Lempurkel's threats and abuses.
The MPs, led by Kenya Women Parliamentary Association chairperson Cecily Mbarire, asked Nkaissery and IG Joseph Boinnet to ensure the MP faces the full force of the law.
"We want to see action taken. Enough is enough. We are concerned that women can be threatened and beaten up, but no action is taken," said Mbarire, who is Runyenjes MP.
The cause of the fight between Lempurkel and Lekorere has not been established but the latter claimed her counterpart confronted her wanting to know what they discussed with Nkaissery.
Lempurkel reportedly stormed Nkaissery’s office after the CS held a meeting with Lekorere and a delegation of MCAs and grassroots leaders from Laikipia county.
The two have been disagreeing over how to handle the invasion of Laikipia by Samburu pastoralists from the north.
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Among those who attended the MPs' press conference at Parliament buildings
were Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi woman representative), Naomi Shabaan (Taveta), Rachel Nyamae (Kitui South), Maison Leshomo (Nominated), Regina Ndambuki (Kilome) and Joyce Lay (Taita Taveta woman representative).