Bomet Senator freed after recording statement

Bomet senator Christopher Langat was freed on Monday evening after being questioned at Bomet police station.

The senator was arrested a few minutes before 11.30 am on Monday at his house in Nyayo Estate, Embakasi.

He left his home alongside lawyer Nelson Havi.

Langat was due to be at the Senate to vote on the revenue sharing formula. He was against it.

Addressing hundreds of his supporters in Bomet, the senator said that he was accused of grouping 200 youths on August 12 for an oath at a local river.

He said an oath according to the police was meant to turn the youths against the neighbouring community.

"I am accused that on August 12, I mobilised 200 youths from Bomet and took them to Amalo River and administered an oath for them and finally engaged them in fighting the Maasai whereby many of them lost their lives," he said.

He dismissed the allegations, saying that he was in the Senate on the day quoted by the police and asked them to further investigate the matter.

The senator lauded his constituents for the support they gave him following his arrest.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok went to the police station as Langat recorded a statement.

Langat's lawyer said he recorded a statement and the senator is now free to work for his people and that he would fly to Nairobi and attend the sitting at the Senate.

Havi added that the senator was not harassed by the police officers.

His Kakamega counterpart Cleophas Malala and Samburu senator Steve Lelegwe were arrested on the same day.

Malala was accused of distributing sanitisers to residents over the weekend without observing the Covid-19 measures.