Police were withdrawn from Uhuru Park on Tuesday to prevent a massacre as some NASA supporters were armed, Fred Matiang'i now claims.
Just hours after declaring the National Resistance Movement a criminal group, the Interior minister spoke of a "well-choreographed
attempt to subvert or overthrow the legally constitutional government of Kenya".
"A massacre or catastrophe
was going to happen there," Matiang'i told the press on Wednesday.
The gathering was largely peaceful though NASA supporters were teargassed on city streets for blocking roads. This hasn't been the case in the past when many NASA supporters have been injured or died as anti-riot police quelled chaos.
The NRM was formed on October 25, 2017, a day before the repeat polls were held.
Since then, Raila has asked his supporters to boycott products and services by companies including Safaricom, BIdco, Haco Industries and Brookside Dairies.
He announced that the
government has commenced full investigations
around the inauguration.
"The investigations will extend to co-conspirators and facilitators. Upon completion of these investigations, appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with the law."
Matiang'i said the government will prefer appropriate administrative measures on a need by need basis and that members of the resistance will be arrested.
"Law agencies are working ... we will bring individuals to book .. we will arrest them ... we
will govern according to the law. We will deal with crime," he said.
"NRM is a criminal organisation, not a political party, that is bent on mayhem and anarchy."
He emphasised that
criminal gangs masquerading as other bodies will not be tolerated.
The cabinet secretary further said the government was aware that media houses were going to be involved in the criminal act.
"We were aware of some elements in the media who participated in the furtherance of this illegal act," he said.
"Their complicity would have led to thousands of deaths of innocent Kenyans due to the buildup of the incitement that was witnessed in early hours."
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Matiang'i said media owners were called and
given a full security brief ahead of NASA's "illegal activities".
"Unfortunately, some media houses chose to disregard this advice, their own code of ethics, self regulation
and the moral responsibility
of every Kenyan
to safeguard the security of there fellow
citizens."
Therefore, he noted,
three television stations will remain off air until the government has completed investigations.
"As a result of what happened yesterday, we have commenced investigations targeting individuals," he said. "Media houses will remain closed until we complete investigations."
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