Days after the security detail of DP Ruto-allied legislators and governor was withdrawn, Parliament’s leader of Majority, Aden Duale is yet to speak.
In January, 2018, Duale said MPs were not entitled to security, and that the assigning of security detail was, in fact, some sort of favour the police was doing for Members of Parliament.
He added that the practice of assigning security to members of Parliament only started in the 10th Parliament because some MPs had been killed.
“The decision to assign MPs security was made by the 10th Parliament after two legislators were killed. An MP would write to the Commissioner of Police to assign them officers. The privilege has no backing in law,” Duale remarked.
This came at a time when 141 NASA-allied MPs had just had their security detail withdrawn.
The move by then Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, also revoked the legislators’ firearm licences and asked them to surrender them to the Licencing Board.
“All MPs were elected on same terms and must enjoy all the benefits extended by their employer, the Parliamentary Service Commission,” Suba South MP, John Mbadi said in Parliament at the time.
Last week Friday, Police withdrew the security detail of five politicians from the ruling Jubilee Party.
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, Kiambu Givernor Ferdinand Waititu, Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, Kandara MP Alice Wahome and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa had their security recalled.
The leaders are now crying that the move was coined out of political witch hunt, and that it was a well-calculated step to ensure they reconsidered their support for DP Ruto.
Kimani Ichung’wa, who is abroad attending to official duty, said he was saddened by the move.
“I ask them what they want to do with my family while I am away. We are being told it is orders from above in the PS’s office,” he noted.
“Yes, it is true. They have been withdrawn in what I see as a political move to intimidate and coerce me following threats even to my life to stop working with Ruto,” Ichung’wa claimed. “I am out of the country currently and God knows what they intend to do to my family while I am away or to myself on return.”