Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i jetted back into the country on Saturday night after a two-week trip to the UK but did not disclose whether he will honour summons to appear before detectives.
Matiangi was in the news prior to his flying out to the UK on February 19 after DCI summoned him to record a statement in connection with an alleged police raid at his home in Karen.
Attempts to reach the former CS were futile as he did not respond to our calls.
Matiang'i landed on Saturday night aboard KLM Flight 0566 and was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by close family members.
Sources said he looked happy and laughed as he chatted with the family members.
His departure on February 19, sparked speculations that he had sneaked out of the country to evade detectives before it was clarified he was on a private trip to the UK.
Those close to him, however, said he was keen to clear his name over claims of false publication of information.
The Immigration Department had revealed that Matiangi left the country a week before he was summoned.
"The subject departed on February 19, 2023, through JKIA on KLM flight number KL566," Immigration director-general Emmanuel Simiyu told police in a letter dated February 28.
The bone of contention revolves around the alleged raid in which police denied involvement and said they sought a court order to obtain CCTV footage from Matiang'i's home.
The officers broke into his residence on February 15, ransacked the house and left.
This was after it was alleged that a group of elite police officers surrounded the home of the former Interior CS in Karen, Nairobi on February 8.
The government denies the raid happened. And as part of the probe into the issue, the DCI has summoned both Matiangi and his lawyer Danstan Omari.
Omari obtained orders stopping the summonses prompting police to turn their attention to Matiangi.
The officers said they are investigating allegations of publication of false information contrary to section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act 2018 amongst other offenses in regard to alleged invasion and raid of his home.
“I have reasons to believe that you, Dr Fred Matiangi, the former Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior and National Co-ordination, is connected to the offence or has information which can assist me in my investigations,” the DCI letter reads.
Head of Serious Crimes Unit Michael Sang sent the summons saying he was investigating the issue.
It has also since emerged that Matiang'i is also being investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission which is probing his wealth.
In a letter addressed to Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei dated Monday, February 27, the commission wants to be granted access to the wealth declaration forms filed by the former minister during his 10-year tenure in Cabinet.
“The commission wishes to request certified copies of Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities forms for the years 2012 to 2022, including the initial and final declarations,” the letter filed by EACC chief executive Twalib Mbarak reads.
Mbarak said that two officers would be sent to Koskei to collect the documents.
Meanwhile, the High Court extended orders stopping the police from harassing or arresting Matiang’i and barred the DCI from commencing any criminal investigations against his lawyer.
Justice Justus Bwonwong’a extended the conservatory orders to April 19 when further directions will be issued. Matiang'i was granted Sh200,000 personal bond.
Matiang’i argues that he is under imminent threat of arrest by the police and is justifiably apprehensive that his constitutional rights will be violated.
He claims to have received credible information from officers of the Kenya Police that they are under express instructions to arbitrarily arrest him.
Last month, police raided Matiangi's home and carted away a server of CCTV cameras. They broke doors at the home as they ransacked it for the CCTV for footage of an earlier aborted raid which was denied by the government.
DCI boss Mohamed Amin said then they had made significant progress in the ongoing investigations surrounding allegations of a raid at the home.
“After a comprehensive investigation, the DCI has determined that no complaint has been made at any police station regarding the alleged raid," Amin said.
"Through our efforts, we have recorded statements from the VIP police deployed to Dr Matiang'i's residence on the night in question, as well as statements from the private security company guarding the property."
He added that they have also taken note of the allegations made by lawyers who held a meeting with Matiang'i before the complaint was lodged on live TV, including a claim that there were 200 lawyers surrounding the former minister to shield him from the police officers.
“We will continue to gather information from all parties involved in this matter. Upon completing our investigation, we will take action if any officers from any security agency were involved in any unauthorised activities, or if any false information was knowingly disseminated by anyone to the public,” he added.
He added the DCI is committed to conducting impartial investigations and upholding the rule of law.
“We take all allegations seriously and will continue to work diligently to bring the truth to light," he said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
