Two governors are embroiled in serious controversy involving accusations of aiding assault, harassment and corrupt practices. In Mombasa, Governor Abdulswamad Nassir was expected to record a statement yesterday at the Kenya Police Service Coast Regional K9 Unit, in Mjambere, Kisauni.

The summons followed claims the governor had a hand in the sexual assault of a local blogger.

However, Nassir didn’t honour the summons, citing county affairs as his priority.

His lead lawyer Jared Magolo alongside a team of attorneys defended the governor’s absence, saying he is a busy man. They added that they are awaiting his availability so that they can accompany him to the nearest police station to give his statement.

Meanwhile in Kericho, a notice of an impeachment motion against Governor Erick Mutai was tabled in the county Assembly over multiple allegations, including sexual harassment of women, gross violation of the constitution and various national and county laws, abuse of office and gross misconduct.

In Nassir’s case in which four suspects were arraigned on Monday, the blogger accused individuals connected to the governor of abducting and assaulting him.

In a sworn affidavit presented to Shanzu Resident Magistrate Robert Mbogo, Police Corporal Irene Karuga of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detailed the ongoing investigation.

According to Karuga, efforts to apprehend additional suspects are underway, including Nassir, his mother and other senior high-ranking county officials.

interfering with investigations

Karuga told the court that her investigation involves serious criminal offenses, including abduction (contrary to section 259 of the Penal code) gang rape and conspiracy to commit a felony. The crimes, she alleges, are among other offences allegedly facilitated by the county boss and his associates.

“The complaint was filed by an online blogger known for his critical posts on Mombasa county politics. He alleges that he was abducted by individuals he recognised after a post he had made and he ended up being sodomised and later dumped in areas of Mwakirunge while fighting for his life,” Karuga stated.

The court heard that intelligence gathered by detectives suggests that Nassir and his allies may have been aiding some of the suspects to evade arrest.

“We have managed to establish that there has been communication which has been going on following the first arrest, where it is reported that there were more than 15 suspects involved, hence releasing them will interfere with the ongoing investigations,” she informed the court.

She argued that releasing the suspects on bond could not only interfere with the investigations but also endanger public safety, given the high profile nature of the case.

“The incident is of public interest and releasing the respondents would pose a threat to their own lives,” she told the magistrate.
Karuga further informed the court that DNA analysis of the suspects was pending and releasing them would hinder crucial forensic procedures necessary to compare DNA samples with those collected from the victim.

She recounted the difficulties law enforcement agents had faced in apprehending the four suspects who appeared in court namely Abdul Hassan, Haji Babu Ndau, Esther Muthoni (alias Totoos) and Violet Adera (alias Vyaoo) due to interference from county officials.

In Kericho where the notice of impeachment motion against Mutai was moved yesterday by MCA Kiprotich Rogony, the governor is accused of engaging in bullying, incitement, vilification and indecent sexual conduct.

The notice states that on March 4, the governor publicly vilified a resident identified as Marwa from Londiani by disparaging, demeaning, undermining and even threatening to use the services of the police officer assigned to him to manhandle him.

“Similarly on August 24, 2023, while commissioning a renal unit and a bulk Liquid Oxygen plant at Kapkatet Sub-County Hospital, the governor openly vilified, slighted and berated Hon, Amos Birir, MCA Kpakatet ward who had not attended the event, describing him as mentally blind and stupid,” the motion reads.

Evading arrest

The notice of motion further accuses the governor of sodomizing women and forcing them into unprotected sex.

“There are numerous complaints of the governor’s indecent and unnatural sexual behavior by female partners who accuse the governor of for instance forcing them to have unconsented ted anal sex, dangerous and unprotected sex etc.

“The victim of the abuse seeks anonymity at this stage and the mover of the motion shall at this hearing of this motion, seek to have the victim hear in camera to protect her identity and dignity,” the notice of motion read.

“The governor has persistently intimidated, molested, harassed county officers who do not sing along to his tune leaving officers jittery and creating an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and despondency in the county and this creating a toxic work environment.”
The motion is slated for next week when the governor will defend himself before the MCAs.