The High Court in Kitale has issued orders barring Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji from arresting West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo.
The court also ordered Matiang’i to immediately reinstate the governor’s bodyguards on the basis that his security was not at the discretion of the CS.
The judge explained that as a state officer, the governor was entitled to state protection by the constitution.
“The court has also issued an order stopping the further withdrawal of security from the governor and we hope that the cabinet secretary will comply with the order,” stated the governor’s lawyer Peter Wanyama.
Wanyama added that failure by CS Matiang’i, IG Boinnet and DPP Haji to comply with the order will force him to seek legal redress against the three for contempt of court.
Lonyangapuo lost his security team a day after storming a roadblock to protest the arrest of a boda boda operator.
He accused the police officers of soliciting Kshs 1,000 bribe from each motorcycle in the county.
"Don't condemn my people, they are not criminals," stated the Governor, "West Pokot is a very peculiar county... Some rules manufactured and created in Nairobi, very far away from West Pokot, don’t recur to the nature of the people here."
"The Askaris (Police) in their stupid manner come with a lot of roadblocks... so Boinnet and Matiangi... if you are listening to me, come and train your people again how to work for the people of Kenya," he continued.
He further praised the youth from his county by claiming that they are now reformed and have even ventured on their own pursuits to make livelihoods.
