Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i was reportedly detained for over five hours at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters - his lawyer alleged.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo, argued that the former CS was only interrogated for 15 minutes after he arrived at 8:00 am on Tuesday, March 7.
Otiende- who was part of the former CS's legal team- termed the delay as an indication that the summon was politically instigated and an attempt to settle political scores.
In addition, Matiang’i’s legal team decried the turn of events at the DCI base- fearing a plot to detain the former CS despite the anticipatory order obtained earlier to prevent his arrest.
"Interesting times, with former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i, at DCI Kiambu.
"5 hours later, still held in abeyance after only 15 mins engagement. This, despite a High Court order! This is no investigation, pure vendetta and witch-hunt. Sad indeed!" he lamented.
According to a source within the DCI Headquarters, a stalemate ensued earlier in the day after Matiang'i-, reportedly, declined to record a statement.
Kisii woman representative, Doris Aburi, alleged that there was a plot to circumvent the anticipatory orders granted to Matiang'i to arraign him in court with the aim of seeking to detain him for more days.
Earlier, his lawyers and a battery of opposition politicians were barred from accessing the premises. DCI screened and allowed a few who signed their names on a guest list.
Among the politicians who accompanied Matiang'i were former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni.
The commotion, DCI operatives claimed, would have caused a security crisis as they were unsure of allowing all those who had accompanied Matiang'i to pass the security checkpoint.
An elite police squad was also deployed to guard DCI headquarters as opposition supporters camped outside the Kiambu Road offices.
Matang'i's woes began on February 8, when reports about an alleged police raid on his residence in Nairobi broke.
However, various agencies in the criminal justice system distanced themselves from the claims. In particular, DCI boss Mohamed Amid noted that no officer was deployed to arrest Matiang'i and declared a probe to investigate the matter.
