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President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday waded into Friday’s incident where a chopper carrying Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga was pelted with stones in Eldoret, warning that it could have set the country on fire.

The President said it was only by the grace of God that the stones aimed at Raila did not hit him, otherwise the incident would have set the country ablaze.

The President implored leaders to conduct their campaigns in a peaceful manner.

His warning came on a day sources told People Daily that the fate of Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi and his Soy counterpart Caleb Kositany lies in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after detectives found they have a case to answer with regards to the attack on ODM leader’s entourage.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) handling the case are waiting for a forensic analysis report on their phones to determine their communication with the 14 people in custody before they forward the file to DPP Noordin Haji to decide the fate of the two legislators and the Uasin Gishu County Assembly Speaker David Kiplagat.

Forensic experts are also examining the leaders’ mobile phones to determine money transactions they made either on the very day or the day before the violence.

Police have also recorded a statement from the pilot of the chopper Colonel (rtd) Paul Ndege.

The President, who was addressing a crowd in Nairobi’s Pipeline estate called for peace as the country heads to the August elections.

“Tusifanye siasa ya utoto, hata kwangu kule Gatundu Ichaweri, si mliona wanakuja kunitukania kwa mlango yangu, mimi nawaangalia tu, mimi sina shida, kwa sababu mtu anafikiria eti matusi ndiyo itampatia kura, ngoja ataona ashangae (Let’s not conduct childish politics. Did you not see them being daring enough to come and hurl insults at me at my own Gatundu Ichaweri home? I have no problem with them, because if you think that insults will earn you votes, you are in for a big surprise),” Uhuru said.

My right

He went on to state: “Kama kitu ingetokea hapo iwe lile jiwe limpige huyo mzee, si hiyo ni moto ingewaka kwenye taifa letu la Kenya (Assuming something happened and a stone hit that old man, would that not have set our nation Kenya on fire?).”

“Watu waombe kura kwa heshima na amani. Mimi nikisema naunga Baba mkono, mimi sisemi huyo mwingine ni mbaya lakini najua mahali kura yangu itaenda. Si hiyo ni haki yangu? Nimekosea? (Let people campaign in peace and with respect. When I say I’m backing Baba, I’m not saying the other one is bad, but I know where my vote will go. Is that not my right? Have I wronged anyone?)

Rift Valley regional criminal investigations officer Mwenda Meme confirmed they recorded statements of the three who have been linked to the incident.

“I cannot give you the extent of our investigations at the moment, we don’t want to jeopardise the case. We have, however, seized their mobile phones for further forensic analysis,” said Meme.

The trio was grilled for hours by detectives both from Uasin Gishu and their counterparts at the regional headquarters and later ordered to be on standby for further interrogations.

Speaking in Nakuru after the grilling, Sudi denied any involvement in the incident.

Sudi said he respects Raila and that he cannot plan such an act to gain political mileage.

“Whatever that happened it is regrettable and we don’t want to wish anyone any ill. We urge security agencies to fully investigate the matter,” he said.

He also accused the police of misusing resources, adding that the transfer from town to town was old-fashioned and meant to frustrate suspects.

“We have a number of police stations in Eldoret which we could have been requested to avail ourselves, this is not the first time I am being subjected to this,” said Sudi.

Kositany said they are ready to cooperate with detectives on the matter.

Arrested suspects

He confirmed that the detectives had seized their phones for data analysis adding that they have been requested to be ready for further summons.

Police sources told People Daily that the 14 suspects, arrested immediately after the violence, were scheduled to appear in court today with police requesting to detain them for more days to enable them complete investigations.

Those in custody are Rodgers Kiplimo Mandi ((38 years), Justin Kipkorir Muge (30 years), Kenneth Kipkogei Sawe (30, and found with Sh1,250 in Sh50 denominations), William Samai Erupe (41), Cleophas Cheboi (35), Eliud Kimeli (27), Elias Kiplagat (27), Abednego Kemboi (32, found in possession of Sh5,400, among it Sh1,600 in Sh50 denomination and is a brother to an MCA), Elvis Kipkoech (25), Moses Mbadi (22), Sammy Cheruiyot (24) Peter Maiyo (28) and Evans Kipchumba (27).

Social media

“They have mentioned names of the three leaders, which makes us believe they have a case to answer. But let’s wait and see the results of the forensic analysis on their phones,” a detective conversant with the case said.

Sources within the DCI intimated that detectives have strong reasons to believe the three leaders organised and coordinated the violence that was witnessed on Friday after the burial of Uasin Gishu politician and farmer Jackson Kibor.

Earlier, Sudi and Kositany, who addressed the press in Eldoret, exonerated themselves from the incident which has sparked uproar in the country.

According to Sudi, he had already left the home of Kibor when he learnt of the incident through social media after he arrived in Eldoret town.

He said he immediately spoke to Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, who was in Raila’s entourage, after he posted the incident on social media.

Apparently, Mohammed had blamed Kositany and Uasin-Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago for the chaos.

“I also spoke with Raila, as you all know he is my friend despite our political differences. He also confirmed that his team had been attacked. I conveyed my apologies to him on behalf of the people of Uasin Gishu. I wonder why the two of us are being singled out,” said Sudi. 

The two legislators, who were joined by their Keiyo South counterpart Daniel Rono, accused DCI and other security agencies of selective application of the law.

Sudi claimed Azimio La Umoja leaders have in the past openly broken the law but no action was taken against them.

“To date, no investigation has been carried out to bring to book those behind the abduction and torture of Dennis Itumbi,” he said.

Kositany faulted Junet for branding him and Governor Mandago as the planners of the attack on Raila’s team before any investigation was carried out.

“He went ahead to profile us even before I knew that such an incident had happened,” said Kositany, who is seeking the Uasin Gishu County governor seat on a UDA ticket.

He said those suspected to have perpetrated the incident have already been arrested and have recorded statements with police.

“But because they want to create a narrative that those associated with William Ruto are perpetrating violence, that’s why you find my name and that of Sudi in the list,” said Kositany.

According to the DCI, the rowdy youth were incited.