The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Thursday denied claims their members or those from the National Police Service were sent to the home of former interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi for harassment.
DCI Mohamed Amin said none of the cases under investigation so far have reached the stage, which requires the assistance or attendance of Dr. Matiang’i.
“No officers from the DCI were deployed to find or arrest Dr. Matiang’i at his residence or anywhere else.”
“For the record, I can confirm that none of the cases under investigation so far have reached the stage, which requires the assistance or attendance of Dr. Matiang’i,” he said.
He added the DCI treats the allegations of a raid into the home of Dr. Matiang’i seriously and has conducted an initial investigation into the matter.
He said they will take action against those behind the spread of the information on the said raid.
The preliminary findings have uncovered evidence of a well-coordinated and deliberate attempt to spread false information and incite public fear, unfortunately, spearheaded by a person of the standing of a former Interior Security Cabinet Secretary.
According to the investigation, activity began building up at Dr. Matiang’i’s home on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 8 PM Kenyan time.
“Initially, Dr. Matiang’i informed his guards that he was expecting guests, who were lawyers, and instructed them to grant access to his home upon their arrival.”
“The lawyers arrived shortly after and proceeded to a meeting inside the house. They were joined shortly afterward by politicians led by the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga,” said Amin.
He was accompanied by his deputy Ireri
Kamwende and head of investigations Eliud Lagat.
According to Amin, after another few minutes, the lawyers drove off in three vehicles, leaving three other cars in the compound.
“As they left, they informed the guards that they would address the press.”
At around 9.30 pm, Mr. Odinga and the team left the home to go and join the lawyers in the Press Conference. Dr. Matiang’ then informed the guards that police would be arriving accompanied by the media to arrest him, and instructed them to allow the police access to the home but to lock out the
media.”
He added the communication team attached to Odinga, then alerted newsrooms that an elite squad of police surrounded the former CS’s home.
“The Media, without question reported the news as a fact and became part of the disinformation campaign.”
“The DCI confirms that this was a deliberate and malicious attempt to spread false information and incite fear, and is nothing more than the highest form of fake news.
DCI will leave the media to its own self-introspection. In our view, it should apologize to the public,” said Amin.
He added the DCI will not tolerate the purveyors of false information and will take firm and bold action against all those involved in this matter.
“Peddlers of falsehoods must understand that they will no longer get away with such careless acts targeted at the souls of our cohesion and National Security.”
Amin said the DCI will continue to conduct its investigation into this matter and will soon announce the next steps in the proceedings.
“We assure the public of our commitment to due process and holding all those involved accountable for their action.”
A court has stopped the state from harassing Matiangi.
