Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has said the arrest of leaders in the ongoing Matungu killings probe was political and that he’ll sue Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Police IG Hillary Mutyambai. Malala, former Sports CS Rashid Echesa and Mayoni MCA Libinus Oduor were arrested on Friday, a day after CS Matiang’i announced the commencement of a major security operation to weed out suspects of the attacks in Matungu, while Matungu MP Justus Murunga was arrested on Saturday.
The Kakamega Senator and Echesa were released on Sunday night. Malala said the arrests are a political gimmick and that two people had to be arrested from DP Ruto’s camp and two from the handshake side to balance the equation. He said after his arrest he was booked for an offence he didn’t commit, “They say it was an incitement to violence in Matungu, but the investigation being done is that I killed people in Matungu, why I should kill people in Matungu?”
He added that he emphasizes with Matungu residents, saying he is the only assembly representative from Western region who took up the issue and questioned Matiang’i, “You can’t blame politicians for bringing the mess in Matungu yet your security officers aren’t diligent,” he said, “Matungu constituency has only 32 security officers, meaning they can’t even guarantee the security of residents if you put together the numbers.” The Matungu attacks have claimed more than 15 people, with the latest casualty a 7-year-old boy who was stabbed to death by unknown attackers at Simba Wanyika village.