Drama as Senator Linturi reappears in parliament after arrest

Drama characterized proceedings at the Senate special sitting on Wednesday as agitated senators demanded that the session be adjourned due to the arrest of Meru Senator Mithika Lithuri.

Senator Lithuri was arrested as he gained entry to parliament chambers to participate in the scheduled BBI bill debate.

Though, it was not immediately established why a vocal lawmaker was arrested; police sources indicated that he was being pursued forging signatures to secure a multi-million-shilling loan from Family Bank.
Marianne Kitany, the estranged wife of Meru Senator, has accused Mr Linturi of forging signatures to secure a Sh530 million bank loan from Family Bank.

“I want to bring to your attention something that has just happened which will perhaps require your direction and guidance. I received a distress call from one of our colleagues’ Senator Mithika Linturi.
“If you do recall in the morning, he raised a point of order on his reading and his understanding of Article 257 and you did promise that we first dispense with the earlier matter then we respond to it,”

“This afternoon, on his way to Parliament, he was stopped by a gentleman who claimed to be police officers from the DCI. They asked him to alight from his car and is now in a car, saying he’s heading to DCI headquarters,” Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot raised the alarm to Speaker Kenneth Lusaka.

“He doesn’t understand what his crime is,” Senator Cheruiyot added.
The Kericho lawmaker noted Linturi’s arrest mirrors the unfortunate events of what had happened during the Revenue Formula debacle.

“The Inspector of police and DCI committed this House that any time Senators are considering such monumental issues, if there was an issue that warranted them being arrested, it will be first with consultations with the Speaker,” the Senator said, requesting the speaker to inquire the whereabouts of the Senator.

Supporting Cheruiyot, Vihiga Senator George Khaniri said an attack on any legislator is an attack on the institution of parliament.
“We must stand and speak with one voice as a Senate that if indeed our colleague has been apprehended in line of duty, then as a Senate we must protest,” said Khaniri.

“Some of us will not participate in the debate this afternoon until it is explained to us, what is happening to our colleague,” the senator cautioned.
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior held that if Linturi has been arrested in the course of duty, it not fair even as he asked his colleagues to leave the debating chambers in protest.

“In fact, at that particular moment (arrests of Sen. Ltumbesi, Langat and Malala) the resolution that was made by then the chair together with the DCI and IG was that there would be a Liaison Committee between the offices of the Speakers and the police,” Senator Mutula.

He went on: “So that if there is something that they need from an MP including Senate, they would, first of all, make the necessary inquiries before arresting a person in the middle of sittings. It’s just totally unacceptable,”

“It doesn’t matter what he believes in, because this chamber is supposed to be a chamber of debate. This is not a choir where we are supposed to just agree,” he added.
According to Mutula, who doubles as the Minority whip, said Lithuri’s arrest will be misconstrued, that they have arrested him so that they reduce the number of people here or intimidate the people who have an alternative view.

On his part, Kitui Senator Enock Wambua termed the arrest of Lithuri as an attempt to intimidate Senators and parliament.

“My submission is that you require the IG in person to produce Sen. Linturi here. Whether Sen. Linturi was arrested in connection with this or not, the timing is suspect,” Wambua urged the speaker.

However, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi informed the House that Sen. Linturi had a mishap with some police officers who apprehended him but said he had been released and that he is on the way to the chamber.
“As the government apologist continued talking, I have spoken with Sen. Linturi and he’s still under arrest. He’s still in custody,” Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika repulsed Wamatangi.

Leader of minority Senator James Orengo noted that Lithuri’s arrest at the entrance of Parliament precincts has everything to do with the liberties of Parliament.

“If we let it continue, one of these days policemen are going to come into the chamber not just to arrest Linturi but to arrest the Speaker,” Charged Senator Orengo.
“At the end of the day, Mr. Speaker you are the head of this House. I cannot take the powers of communicating with another arm of the government on behalf of Parliamentarians. I suggest, that until you have a proper answer, we have no business continuing,” Orengo added.
Lusaka, while adjourning the House for 30 minutes termed Linturi’s arrests as very serious.

“Because of the gravity of the matter and what has been requested. I am suspending the house for 30 minutes during which time I will use to find out what exactly has happened,” the speaker ruled.
“And even after we find out, I will want to direct the committee on national security to get into this matter as a deterrent, so that this does not happen again to any member,” he added.

When Lithuri emerged at the Chambers after being released by detectives, he said “I have been in the hands of my good brother Kinoti and it has not been one of the best experiences, to say the least”.

“I must thank this House, the members of Parliament who have found it very necessary to stand up and be with me in this particular time. Not because I’m not answerable to an agency that is investigating any matter or I’m not supposed to be arrested,” he said, it was absurd for the DCI to arrest him on a historic day debating the BBI bill.

“I would have been summoned to go to the DCI on Monday or any other day…but doing it today is what is annoying me and it is very painful,” he lamented.

He charged: “This House and you Mr. Speaker have demonstrated leadership today. We require to be treated with dignity”
“We require to be told whenever we’ve we have done anything wrong or even when something is being investigated to appear and share information because we are equal before the law,” he held.