Matiang'i's Watchman Recounts Encounter With Police During Raid

Edgara, the watchman manning the gate at former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's residence in Karen during a police raid on February, 15, 2023.
Edgara, the watchman manning the gate at former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's residence in Karen during a police raid on February 15, 2023.
Citizen TV

A watchman manning the gate at former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i's home narrated his encounter with the police officers who raided the residence.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, February 15, the security guard who only identified himself as Edgar claimed that officers forced their way into Matiang'i's residence after he refused to unlock the gate.

"They came and they asked me to open the gate and when I declined and tried to reason with them, they broke in," he told Citizen TV.

Former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i's watchman named Edgar - speaking to the media (left) and a broken gate at the former CS's home in Karen (right).
Former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i's watchman named Edgar speaking to the media (left) and a broken gate at the former CS's home in Karen (right).
File

He added that an unknown number of officers then captured him and bundled him into one of the vehicles, where they held him without explanation.

"They came in and threw me into the boot of one of the cars and locked me inside for an hour then released me.

"They did not tell me anything save for one of the officers who asked me if the boss was in but I told him he was not," he explained.

Noticeably, the security guard concealed his identity during the interview using a pair of glasses and a face mask.

According to the former CS's lawyer Danstun Omari, at least eight vehicles full of officers arrived at the premises at about 2 p.m.

Omari confirmed that some of the officers present were those from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Footage in the media revealed several police land cruisers and three Subaru vehicles.

The lawyer claimed that the police allegedly forced their way into the compound by reversing one of the vehicles into the gate.

He confirmed that the CS was safe as he was not in the house during the break-in. Omari added that if given a chance, he could identify at least 20 of the officers.

As the events unfolded, DCI boss Amin Mohamed issued a statement explaining that the directorate had obtained a court order allowing them to search Matiang'i's Karen home. 

Police vehicles at former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i's home in Karen on Wednesday February 15, 2022
Police vehicles at former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i's home in Karen on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
Citizen TV