Omari’s Turnaround Could Land ex-CS Matiangi In Trouble

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• By making a U-turn, Omari seemed to have come to this reality. We have been cornered.
• We have no evidence to support our claims. So, the way out of this is to change the story. Otherwise, we might find ourselves in a big trouble.
• He spoke as head of DCI Mohamed Amin announced that the investigations have been commenced. We want to get to the bottom of this matter.
• If it is true that the police officers had raided the home, we want to know who sent them. The National Police Service (NPS) Code of Conduct is very clear. The officers are supposed to follow the chain of command.

When I heard that the police officers have for the second time raided the residence of former Interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi, I anxiously waited to hear the immediate reaction of his lead lawyer Dunstan Omari.

This was because of two reasons. First, it seemed the ex-CS had picked him as his spokesman and a person who would respond to all queries and clarifications sought by journalists regarding this matter.

If not, he had given himself this role and his approach was not only confrontational and bullish but he was also oozing a lot of energy, vigour and confidence.

Secondly, I had listened to a statement he had made after the alleged first raid.

I wanted to see whether he would repeat the same blunder he had made.

Speaking to journalists drawn from mainstream media houses, he had stated. This evening dozens of police officers had stormed, surrounded and raided the home of ex-CS who is my client.

We condemn this incident in strongest terms possible.

This is violation of law because the ‘officers did not have a court order’.

He was being flanked by the leaders of Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Coalition led by Raila Odinga outside the home of Matiangi.

Allegedly, they were there to respond to a distress call.

A few days later, Omari changed the story. He said there was nobody in the compound of the  home of ex-CS.

Initially, you said that the home had been raided. You have changed tune. Why?

This is how he responded. There were vehicles parked outside on a public road. We suspected the occupants were police officers and they intended to raid the home.

He spoke after the heads of the state security agencies-DCI, IGP and Ministry of Interior- vehemently denied that the police had raided the home and wanted to arrest the ex-CS.

We challenge the lawyer and Azimio brigade to prove their claims by releasing the video clips showing the images of the officers who entered the compound.

By making a U-turn, Omari seemed to have come to this reality. We have been cornered.

We have no evidence to support our claims.  So, the way out of this is to change the story. Otherwise, we might find ourselves in a big trouble.

He spoke as head of DCI Mohamed Amin announced that the investigations have been commenced. We want to get to the bottom of this matter.

If it is true that the police officers had raided the home, we want to know who sent them. The National Police Service (NPS) Code of Conduct is very clear. The officers are supposed to follow the chain of command.

If the incident was staged-managed, we will ensure the planners have been brought to book.

To me, Omari is not yet off-the-hook.

Going by his latest outbursts, he once again seemed to have incriminated himself.

Reacting to what he termed as the second raid, he said.

This time, the police officers cannot hide. They have been captured by national televisions breaking main gate of the residence of CS and entering into his compound.

They had used the same force to enter his house and ransacked all the rooms including his bedroom.

They have left with some machines and other valuables.

Again, he condemned this incident and pointed his finger at President William Ruto led Kenya Kwanza government.

He alleged the officers did not have search order. They have not told us the crimes ex-CS has committed.

Being my client, I have a right to know what he has done.

In a statement, the National Police Service (NPS) dismissed the claims as concoctions of sort and usual political theatrics.

We will not be distracted from doing our job as stipulated in the constitution and other laws.

We had a court order allowing us to retrieve the CCTV footages. We had made good progress in probing earlier claims that the home of CS had been raided.

After completing this exercise, we shall definitely take people to court.

The actions of whoever did this posed a real threat to the national security.

So, this matter is serious and cannot be swept under the carpet.

For me, Omari is likely to become a  person of interest. He had said nobody had entered into Matiangi’s compound.

He now turns around to say. In the latest incident, Police cannot now hide because they were captured by the media cameras.

How do you interpret this? He has changed and wants Kenyans to believe that the police had  actually raided the home of former CS.

I want to remind him even that time the cameras were still there.

This is my unsolicited advise to former CS. If he had picked him to be his spokesman, he should reconsider his decision. His uncontrolled utterances could also land him (ex-CS) into trouble.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi