Lawyer Danstan Omari has clarified that his client, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, travelled to the United Kingdom to handle family matters.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on the morning of Wednesday, March 1, Omari confirmed that his client was indeed out of the country refuting reports that he fled over his DCI summons.
The lawyer further intimated that Matiang'i left the country on Sunday, February 19.
“There is nothing sinister about his travel. He is there to attend to an urgent private family matter and shall return to resume his ordinary routine as a private citizen,” he stated in a subsequent statement.
He added that Kenyans needed to stop speculating over the travel given that the former CS would return to the country in due course.
“Those familiar with his travel schedules over time will confirm that he travels regularly to that part of the world via KLM.
“It is therefore unfair to cast aspersions on his movement,” he stated.
According to the lawyer, Matiang'i was scheduled to be in the UK for two weeks.
Omari's statement came a day after the Immigration Department wrote to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) indicating that the former CS was out of the country.
This was after he failed to appear before detectives for questioning on February 24.
"The passport number was issued to Dr Okengo Matiangi on January 12, 2022. He is also a holder of a diplomatic passport. "He departed on February 19, 2023, through JKIA on KLM flight number KL 566," the immigration office revealed.
Matiang'i was summoned to appear to the DCI on February 24, a day after the summons was issued.
Notably, the summon was issued days after he had left the country.
