Deputy President William Ruto and his allies on Thursday turned the heat on the Ministry of Interior over the Kimiti prison break and the rising insecurity across the country.
In an indirect reference to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, the DP said those charged with the security of the country must seriously focus on their responsibilities.
He said the two should decide if they are in politics or the security of the country.
“The security of our nation is more important than any other assignment, even if they have elected to be youth wingers of some politicians,” he said at a rally in Embu.
The leaders who accompanied him, including Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru and a host of MPs, said Matiang'i and Kibicho must take responsibility for the escape from Kamiti Maximum Prison of convicted terrorists.
“Kirinyaga has better and more competent people to be employed in government. Kibicho should not be one of them. He must be fired,” Waiguru said.
Waiguru was joining Ruto’s campaign trail for the first time after close to four years of reading from different scripts. She decamped from President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party to Ruto's United Democratic Alliance last month.
The MPs present included John Muchiri (Manyatta), Geoffrey King'ang'i (Mbeere South), Muriuki Njagagua (Mbeere North) and Cecily Mbarire (nominated).
Others were Eric Muchangi (Runyenjes), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a) and Aisha Jumwa (Malindi).
They said it is regrettable that the “small fish” are being punished after the incident, saying that those charged with the security of the country should be held to account for their laxity.
The lawmakers said the two had abandoned their duties and were engaged in politics at the expense of protecting lives and properties.
President Kenyatta on Wednesday sacked Wycliffe Ogalo as the commissioner general of the Kenya Prisons Service.
Also sacked was the Commandant of Kamiti Prisons Charles Mutembei and his deputy following a security breach that saw three terror convicts escape.
Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga, aka Zarkarawi, Mohammed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo, aka Yusuf, escaped. They were arrested on Thursday in Kitui county.
The President, in a statement, directed the State Department of Correctional Services to begin disciplinary action against all prisons staff who were on duty when the security breach occurred.
The directive includes the redeployment and/or immediate suspension of those found culpable.
Nine wardens at Kamiti Maximum Prison are in police custody following the escape of three convicts who were serving jail terms for terrorism-related crimes.
Nyoro said those responsible for Kenya’s security had exhibited their ineptitude and incompetence. He termed the firing of the Kenya Prisons director general Wycliffe Ogalo as a desperate cover-up.
“The people who must be sacked and jailed are Matiang’i and the Interior PS Karanja Kibicho. They have failed our country,” he added.
Gachagua claimed that the security lapse being witnessed in Kenya was deliberate and foreseen. He said the funds allocated to the security docket had been diverted to the failed Building Bridges Initiative.
“More funds are now being channelled to the campaigns of Raila Odinga at the expense of our security,” the MP said.
He wondered why the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai had not been fired after the brutal killing of the Kianjokoma brothers in August.
Gachagua asked the President to be bold enough and sack Matiang’i and Kibicho.
“These two are our country’s problems. They are the culprits. Do not punish their juniors," he said.
Supporting the sentiments, Kang’ata said the CS and the PS should be in jail for their failures.
Mbarire said such incompetence would not be manifested in the UDA administration.
“Our focus will be on Kenyans and their aspirations,” she said.
Muchiri said Mt Kenya was fully behind Ruto for president in 2022.
“We cannot support a candidate who has no agenda for the development of our country,” Muchangi said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
