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MP Wamboka pressed to explain arrest, witnesses intimidation claims

"Can he tell who is these intimidating witnesses?"

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by Bosco Marita

News09 May 2024 - 14:43

In Summary


  • The MP had told the committee that he had faced threats of arrest adding that some of the witnesses he had lined up to testify had been warned against doing so.
  • Select Committee Member Jane Njeri Maina while confronting the matter sought answers from the MP on who he thought was orchestrating the arrest threat and witnesses intimidation.
Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami at the National Assembly during the impeachment pre-trial of CS Mithika Linturi on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at Parliament Buildings.

Bumula MP Jack Wamboka Wanami, who is the mover of the impeachment motion against Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, was Wednesday put to task to substantiate allegations of arrest and intimidation of his witnesses.

The MP had told the committee that he had faced threats of arrest adding that some of the witnesses he had lined up to testify had been intimidated.

Select Committee Member Jane Njeri Maina while confronting the matter sought answers from the MP on who he thought was orchestrating the arrest threat and witnesses intimidation.

"I want the honourable member to tell us that he has alluded to intimidation of witnesses that he would want to call to this committee and he has also alluded to arrest by DCI and summoning. Can he tell who is these intimidating witnesses?" MP Njeri posed.

In a rejoinder, Wanami said his experience with the impeachment has been a difficult one for him.

"The moment I put my phone down, the guy says I am coming, the next minute I have been summoned by the DCI. That is intimidation," the MP said in an apparent reference to witnesses.

At the same time, Njeri also sought answers from the MP to explain how CS Linturi could be held liable for a contract that was signed at a time when he was not in office.

"You refer to a former contract for supply and distribution where it states that the honourable CS appears to have committed a gross violation and goes on and on. You refer to a former contract for supply and distribution of fertilizer dated March 31, 2022. Could you tell this committee the name of the CS at the time?" Njeri asked.

At the time, Peter Munya was the CS.

Wamboka confirmed the same and, however, said the issues surrounding the fertiliser emerged at the tenure of CS Linturi.

The trial of the CS is set to end Friday after which MPs will retreat to write a report before submitting it to the National Assembly special sitting to be held Monday, May 13.

CS Linturi has denied wrongdoing as far as accusations directed at him are concerned.


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