The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and six other petitioners have filed a petition asking the court to summon politicians who have publicly commented on the recent spate of abductions.
This is according to a statement by human rights activist Hussein Khalid, who on Wednesday shared a copy of the revised petition while attending a court session where Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja was summoned to appear.
The list includes prominent politicians such as National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, who have been named among the individuals they wish to cross-examine regarding the ongoing abductions.
Others named in the list include Kibwezi East MP Mwengi Mutuse, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa.
Mathira MP Erick Wamumbi and former MCA Sylas Tochim completed the list.
The petition, which was set to be filed at 9 am on Wednesday, urged the court to issue orders requiring the nine to, “Appear before Court for purposes of cross-examination by the applicant herein or any other party in these proceedings that may be interested in doing so.”
This new development follows comments made predominantly during the burial of Moses Wetang’ula’s mother on Friday, 3 January.
Prompted by remarks from the Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya urging President William Ruto to put an end to the abductions, several politicians took it upon themselves to defend the President.
Ichung’wah delivered a scathing address to the Governor, accusing him of orchestrating abductions during his tenure as Regional Police Commander.
“Shame on you, Governor Natembeya. You cannot complain about abductions when you were the key abductor of Kenyans under the last regime,” Ichung’wah said.
The heated debate at the funeral stemmed from the disappearance of six young Kenyans who had reportedly gone missing after allegedly posting disparaging images of the President.
On Monday, January 6, five of them were released ahead of the anti-abductions protests but details of their ordeal still remain scanty.
Meanwhile, IG Kanja who was set to appear before the court to explain the abductions was a no-show, citing prior commitments to security-related issues.
NARC Kenya Party leader Martha Karua, LSK President Faith Odhiambo, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, and advocate Ndegwa Njiru were present at the Milimani Law Courts for the hearing.
