Interior CS Fred Matiang'i on Wednesday, August 19, strongly disagreed with Deputy President William Ruto during a meeting with the Senate Security Committee where journalists were kicked out.
According to a report seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Matiang'i criticised Ruto for sensationalising the arrest of three senators on Monday.
He was responding to criticism from DP Ruto who claimed that police officers were used to threaten, intimidate and blackmail senators to pass the controversial Third Generation Revenue Sharing Formula.
Matiang'i slammed Ruto's sentiments as pretentious and seeking to sway the public.
He added that as the deputy president, Ruto should have called Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai or himself to enquire what was going on, rather than taking to the media.
"The DP is guarded by very many police officers yet he, while enjoying state protection, unilaterally condemns the police over matters for which he lacks facts," Matiang'i noted.
He explained that the arrests of Senators Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Christopher Langat (Bomet), and Steve Lelegwe of Samburu were based on crimes they were accused of committing.
Senator Lelegwe was arrested over sponsoring cattle rustling in Samburu county. Police are in possession of statements from elected leaders in his county accusing him of financing cattle rustling including buying guns for use by the rustlers.
When the senator said that he would record the statement in Nairobi, police allowed him the courtesy given his stature.
The CS stated that when police officers came to Nairobi to get the statement from him, he turned off his phone and became dodgy.
Senator Langat was accused of holding an oathing ceremony at his residence in contravention to Covid-19 public safety directives.
When called by police to make a statement, he called his supporters who caused fracas over the matter. He is also suspected of being involved in the Narok- Nakuru -Bomet clashes.
Senator Malala was wanted over accusations that he was involved in killings in Matungu, Kakamega County.
"He was recently summoned by police to record a statement over meeting a group of women in his county. On hearing this, he turned off his phone and became MIA, only to resurface on Monday when he called the police saying he was ready to record the statement. However, he did not honor his promise making the police look for him," Matiang'i explained.
"Other elected leaders have been summoned in the past and obeyed the summons without causing the same kind of drama. Why can’t they behave like responsible law abiding citizens?" the CS concluded.
