Was The Decision To Block Raila From Accessing DCI Compound Justified?

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• The Kenya Kwanza government, Dr Ruto says, is to ready to allocate financial resources to facilitate the Office of the Official Leader of Opposition.
• Back to Matiangi’s day with DCI, his grilling centered on claims he had made that his home in Karen, Nairobi, had been raided by armed police officers.
• Through his lawyers, he had alleged the officers wanted to arrest him for ‘undisclosed crime’.
• But in a swift response, the heads of NPS, DCI and Interior cabinet secretary Kithure Kindiki vehemently denied the claims through separate statements.
• This was a fake and stage-managed raid, DCI declared. The intention of authors of this false script was to disrupt peace and unity that the country is enjoying.

The office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is one of the key departments within the National Police Service (NPS) and it is a apolitical.

Though he would not openly say this, it seemed this was the basis of the instructions given to a senior officer who blocked a host of politicians accompanying former powerful Internal Security CS Fred Matiang’i from accessing the compound of DCI headquarters on Kiambu road.

The uniformed officer was repeatedly overheard telling them.

The instructions are clear. I have been told not to allow you access this compound.

The lawyers representing ex-CS are the only ones allowed to accompany him and we have allowed them to do so.

This response irritated the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga who demanded to know who had given him the instructions.

“This is a public office. I have a right to enter and meet the top DCI officers, at any time. I have come because I want to know why ex-CS is being held here”

But the officer stood his ground. With due respect, I have directed not allow the politicians.

At one point, Raila threatened to order a huge crowd of his supporters to break down the main gate of DCI headquarters. He was calmed down by a section of Azimio coalition leaders present.

I was following these unfolding dramas in the mainstream media and social media.

The first question that came to my mind. Was the DCI justified to deny Raila and his brigade access to their office?

I know Azimio supporters would not like my take on this.

They would curse and brand me a sycophant and parrot of President William Ruto.

This is because of reasons. While taking advantage of their ignorance and lack of civic education, the opposition politicians had managed to change their minds to  look at woes facing Matiangi from a political angle.

To them, the former CS was a victim of political witch-hunt and vendetta.

He is being persecuted simply because he stood out as a fierce critic of Dr William Ruto in the run up to 2022 general election.

He never believed in Ruto’s presidency and he openly campaigned for Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

Besides, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision to strip Dr Ruto, then his  Deputy, of his key assignments and transferred them to Matiangi, earning him the title of ‘Super CS’.

For Dr Ruto, this was m now the payback time for President Ruto. This is the far that the politicians had brainwashed them.

Allow me to explain why this narrative was ill-advised and not adding up.

Kenya is now being governed by a new constitution that was promulgated in 2010.

This constitution created independent institutions.

The National Police Service (NPS) is judiciary is one of them. We also have a judiciary that undertakes its constitutional mandate without fear and favor.

In the recent past, we have seen judicial officers making decisions that even contradicts and goes against the wishes of the president.

Since he assumed power, president Ruto has continued to curve a niche of being a strong believer in the rule of law and constitution. This is in line with his oath of office.

For him, he had no option than to accept the verdicts of the courts.

And while answering his critics, he would aver. I’m a person who fears God and hence the talk that I’m vindictive and revengeful person is a hot air. It is neither here nor there.

If you have committed a crime, carrying your own cross without dragging my name.

Lest we forget. Azimio leader was a key proponent of the draft constitution during the referendum campaigns.

The always described the draft as the most progressive, likening it to constitutions of America and South Africa, respectively.

Majority of Kenyans eventually voted in favor of its adoption.

Today, Raila is leading the clamor for the repeal of same constitution through the referendum.

To him, it seems the supreme law of land is now bad because it has failed to enable him realize his political ambitions.

This explains why I no longer support his agenda because it looks like more of being selfish than to champion the cause of Kenyans.

In the aftermath of 2007 and 2017 polls, he managed to push his agenda.

This time, Dr Ruto has refused to share the government with him on basis of 50-50 ‘nusu mkate’.

The President has instead advised him to stick to his lane and champion the agenda  of opposition in parliament and outside.

The Kenya Kwanza government, Dr Ruto says, is to ready to allocate financial resources to  facilitate the Office of the Official Leader of Opposition.

Back to Matiangi’s day with DCI, his grilling centered on claims he had made that his home in Karen, Nairobi, had been raided by armed police officers.

Through his lawyers, he had alleged the officers wanted to arrest him for ‘undisclosed crime’.

But in a swift response, the heads of NPS, DCI and Interior cabinet secretary Kithure Kindiki vehemently denied the claims through separate statements.

This was a fake and stage-managed raid, DCI declared. The intention of authors of this false script was to disrupt peace and unity that the country is enjoying.

Just a few days after the head of DCI announced that they have commenced investigations; Matiangi’s lead lawyer was quoted as saying.

Nobody had raided the home of ex-CS . We however feared the occupants of the cars parked on a public road at night near his home were police officers and had gone there to arrest him.

Did Omar realize they have been cornered? So, was his reaction borne out of fear?

Given the latest development, it seems this has come to pass.

According to media reports, after interrogating him the DCI  concluded he has a case to answer.

The process of arraigning him in court to face charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and giving false information started in earnest.

For Raila, it is true he had a right to meet the head of DCI but the question is. Why did choose to go there on that day?

Why demand to know why ex-CS is being held?

This amounted to an attempt to obstruct the DCI from undertaking their lawful mandate.

Besides, why did he have to mobilize his supporters to accompany him? What was his motive?

As we know, the supporters were roaring to storm the DCI headquarters. So, the decision to stop him from accessing the compound was wise.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and commentator based in Nairobi