Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng'eno on Saturday, June 10, narrowly escaped arrest after his supporters prevented four police officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) from apprehending him in Narok County.
Reports indicated that the angry mob confronted the officers and demanded for an arrest warrant.
The officers led by James Akeyo claimed that they were acting under instructions from DCI headquarters in Nairobi and were attached to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
Dissatisfied with the response, the angry mob deflated the police vehicle's tyres to prevent the arrest.
The legislator suspected a witch hunt wondering why the officers sought his arrest without a valid document. Further, he questioned why the attempted arrest occurred during the weekend.
Tables, however, turned on the officer who led the operation after another set of officers whisked him to a police van and took him into custody at Narok Police Station to investigate a possible witch hunt against the lawmaker.
Section 29 of the Criminal Procedures Code gives provisions for instances where a police officer may, without an order from a magistrate and without a warrant, arrest a suspect.
This includes any person whom police officers suspect upon reasonable grounds of having committed a cognizable offence, any person who commits a breach of the peace in an officer's presence as well as any person who obstructs a police officer while in the execution of his duty, or who has escaped or attempts to escape from lawful custody.
Prior to the scuffle, the MP and his supporters had completed a recruitment drive for United Democratic Alliance (UDA) members in Narok County.
Ng'eno's battle with the NCIC dates back two years ago when the MP was listed by the Commission among the politicians allegedly fanning hate.
The lawmaker was aggravated by the list and claimed that he never incited anyone.
He added that the NCIC had not summoned him to court over hate speech claims arguing that his bold speeches and truth-speaking nature did not sit well with other people.
“I’m surprised that NCIC listed me as number two in those on their radar over hate speech. This is an assassination of my character and I am assembling my lawyers to face it off with the commission. I want my name removed from the list with immediate effect,” the MP stated in February 2021.
