Police in Kitale have launched a manhunt for Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala over allegations that he failed to pay Ksh20,000 for a suit he took from a local boutique in Kitale three weeks ago.
According to Peter Ongaki, a clothier at the boutique, Senator Malala allegedly walked into the shop on March 1, 2018 and took a blue-striped men suit valued at Ksh17,000 and a pink shirt valued at Ksh3,000 on credit.
Mr Malala had promised to pay for the suit after attending the hearing of a petition filed against Saboti MP Caleb Amisi by Jubilee candidate in the August 8 elections Jonas Kuko.
The report issued to the police indicate that Senator Malala was at a nearby hotel before walking into the boutique and picking the suit.
"He also left behind his clothes at the boutique and up to now, he has not made payment.
[caption caption="The clothes left at the boutique(Twitter)"]
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"All I want is for him to pay what he owes me; that's it," Ongaki stated.
The boutique owner further claimed that he has CCTV footage to prove his allegations.
Trans Nzoia OCPD Jackson Mwenga has pointed out that the senator will be summoned to respond to the claims.
"We will summon him and if he refuses to pay we will charge him for obtaining the goods through false pretense. There are no free things," he was quoted by Nairobi News as saying.
However, speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Malala denied the allegations noting that they were part of an orchestrated scheme by Ford Kenya-allied politicians to malign him.
He noted that the timing of the allegations was suspect as it comes just a day after he was nominated as Senate Deputy Minority leader, to deputise ODM's James Orengo upon replacing Ford Kenya leader and NASA co-principal Moses Wetangula.
"That is propaganda. I was in Kitale three weeks ago, how could they wait this long to come up with such fake charges? I am a reputable and respected Senator," he asserted.
[caption caption="Cleophas Malala addressing journalists (Facebook)"]
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The new developments follow a move by ODM to oust Wetangula as the Senate Minority leader on Thursday in a clear manifestation of disgruntlement in the NASA coalition.
Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, however, suspended - albeit temporarily - ODM's move to replace Wetangula until a time when the name of a suitable replacement will be forwarded to him. Wetangula on his past has promised to fight to retain his position.
On Friday, two other co-principals in NASA Musalia Mudavadi of ANC and Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka vowed to defend Wetangula against the ODM onslaught.
ODM's Raila Odinga - another principal in the coalition - was conspicuously absent from the meeting with reports indicating that the disintegration of NASA is imminent.
