There was a light moment in the Senate Tuesday morning when Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka sensationally claimed that his Nandi counterpart Samson Cherargei once cried after being arrested by police.
Onyonka was contributing to a motion on the consideration of Douglas Kanja as the next Inspector General of Police.
According to the senator, the national police service has failed Kenyans by effecting unilateral arrests and it was now Kanja’s turn to try and redeem it.
“Mr Speaker as you look at it now, a gentleman called Jimi Wanjigi has been arrested, his house was demolished and these are issues that I would want to seek in this house,” he said.
He went on “I remember when Cherargei was being arrested three years ago and he was screaming saying oh my God what would happen to me, these people came at 3am”.
This was not taken lightly by Cherargei who rose and demanded that Onyonka apologise over his remarks affirming he was indeed arrested while naked but never cried.
“Mr Speaker, is it in order to go on the Hansard of this House that I was yelling and crying? I am a dry Kalenjin man who was circumcised at 3am,” he questioned.
“In fact, I was arrested naked but I have never cried about it Mr Speaker. Can he apologise to me and the great people of Nandi in the spirit of Koitalel Samoei and Talai,” he posed amid laughter.
When Speaker Amason Kingi challenged Onyonka to substantiate his statement, he insisted that he “literally” saw him wailing and asking for his gods to excuse him.
He vowed to present the video clip depicting him crying.
Kingi noted that since the House is proceeding on recess, he can avail of it when they resume on September 17.
“We are proceeding on recess today, once we come back provide that clip,” said Onyonka.
The Kisii senator at the same time asked Kanja to carry himself with the dignity he has if approved for appointment.
The motion was moved by Baringo Senator William Cheptumo who doubles up as the chairperson of the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations.
While contributing to the motion, nominated senator Crystal Asige said the proof will be in what Kanja does in his first 100 days.
"On his first day in office. Mr Speaker, that will determine the intention of this new IG and where he would like to take the national police," she said.
