Parliamentary Majority Leader Aden Duale has picked a fight with Interior CS Fred Matiang'i after accusing him of letting President Uhuru Kenyatta shame himself in a national address.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, May 6, the lawmaker noted that it was shameful that the president was forced to apologise on behalf of the police over brutality meted on Kenyans in the name of implementing the curfew.
He further noted that while the president was issuing the apology, Matiang'i and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, who he claimed should have been on top of the matter, did not say a word.
"It is very shameful for the president to apologise on behalf of the police. How could the commander in chief apologise on behalf of the police?
"The Minister for Interior is not apologising. The Inspector-General of Police is not apologising. I mean, it is shameful," stated the lawmaker.
He further pointed out that he could not stomach the president being remorseful over something that his office had done (or failed to do).
"In fact, if the president today apologises on behalf of something that happened in this house about my office, I would resign. So the president has apologised on your behalf and you are not remorseful?
"Mr Speaker, every night you watch the TV, the Minister for Health (Mutahi Kagwe) tells us the situation. The next story is how the police have killed people," he added.
He further explained that the situation had grown so disgraceful that police brutality is claiming more lives than the Covid-19 virus, yet the dusk-to-dawn curfew was aimed at saving lives.
Uhuru, on Wednesday, April 1, apologised to members of the public over the incidents that involved police brutality which was experienced around the country since the beginning of the curfew.
"I know especially when we introduced the curfew, in the initial stages, there were some challenges. I apologize to all Kenyans for some excesses that were conducted or happened.
"But I want to assure you that if we work together, if we all understand that this problem needs all of us, then together we shall overcome," President Kenyatta stated at the time.
