If you closely followed the happenings in the Kenyan Political Scene during the year 2007, you probably heard of the physical confrontation between Gitobu Imanyara and the then First Lady, the late Lucy Kibaki.
Various media outlets reported that Imanyara was slapped by Lucy Kibaki for allegedly representing a journalist who took her to Court for another physical assault.
Well, Imanyara has finally given the true chronology of events on that fateful day that will remain in the minds of many Kenyans for a long time.
According to Imanyara, the then head of state, Mwai Kibaki had invited small political parties to Statehouse to chat a way foward heading into the General elections.
Being a member of the Chama cha Mwananchi (CCM), Imanyara attended Kibaki’s meeting only to be stopped by Security at the gate.
Imanyara say’s that the security team said that it had to consult whether he should be at the meeting after which he was allowed in.
Once at the venue of the meeting, even before he could settle down, he heard screams coming his way. The first Lady was yelling at him as she thumped her feet.
“Why is he here? Who allowed him into my house?”
It still did not dawn on Gitobu Imanyara that Lucy Kibaki was referring to him only for someone to enlighten him that Lucy was after him.
He then got out only to come face to face with an angry Lucy Kibaki who was dressed in her night gown breathing fire.
Imanyara says that Lucy then started raining blows at him after which he slapped her hard. The first Lady fell on the floor.
“She started raining blows at me. She grabbed my shirt and called me names. I tried disengaging but she held on. I slapped her hard and she fell hard on the floor,” he says.
The Slap led to some intense silence in the meeting room. Security came and took Lucy away but she did not go away without putting in a fight. She still wanted to give Imanyara a piece of her mind.
Imanyara was on the other hand let go by the Security at Statehouse.
“I thought someone would grab me and lock me up. They let me drive out and I sighed with relief,” he says.
Just like one would call his/her friend when in trouble, Imanyara called Lawyer Paul Muite to tell him that he had hit the Country’s first lady.
Muite confirms that Imanyara said that he was acting in Self-defence.
“There is no way he would have made that up within the short duration. I believed him,” he says.
Well, there you have it, from the man himself.