Controversial blogger Robert Alai Monday sent officers into a wild goose chase after ‘volunteering to share confidential information which would have helped the DCI develop a case.
In an early morning tweet, Alai, who boasts some 1.2 million Twitter followers, said he has evidence implicating a senior KRA manager.
Hey @DCI, I have details of properties of a senior KRA manager you can investigate. The wealth he has is just out of the ordinary. Come to me if you are interested. @EACCKenya
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) May 13, 2019
This followed a sting operation where sleuths drawn from the DCI posed as interns, nabbing scores of KRA officials at the taxman headquarters at the Times Towers.
DCI would later welcome Alai to their DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road, where the DCI headquarters are.
Good morning @RobertAlai. Please visit us @DCI_Kenya Headquarters or write to us @director@cid.go.ke to give further details on the same. We’ll treat the information with the sensitivity & confidenteliality it requires. Thank you you sir for agreeing to volunteer information. https://t.co/rcjKSHX2Mt
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) May 13, 2019
Currently, the DCI is expecting some 48 KRA officials who are believed to have evaded arrest on Friday.
Alai would later get back to the DCI asking them to Message him the mobile number of the specific CID he was to see while at the station.
DM the name and contacts of the officer I can speak to at the DCI HQ. I am really serious about this. We must seriously fight corruption
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) May 13, 2019
While the DCI swiftly responded and sent a landline number, Alai was nowhere satisfied. He probably wanted a personal cellphone number.
@DCI_Kenya has sent me this message on DM — Good morning Alai. Kindly use this number 👉🏿0202861900. It belongs to Bank Fraud Investigations Unit. Thank you.
The unit I least trust in Kenya Police is Banking Fraud investigations. More so after NYS scam.
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) May 13, 2019
After sharing the DCI landline number with his Twitter followers, Alai was adamant he wanted the personal number of a CID officer, and he wasn’t ready to get anything short of that.
I am serious about this @DCI_Kenya. Send me the contacts of one officer I can share with all the evidence and see if you will follow up this. 90% of the investigations already done. You will just confirm.
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) May 13, 2019
But the DCI would not budge. Instead, they repeated the same message over and over, advising the blogger to visit their offices at Kiambu Road.
Please note that the number we have already shared with you is the official number. We do not share personal numbers of our investigators. You’re free to come to @DCI_Kenya Headquarters & share the information with us or email us through @director@cid.go.ke. Thank you sir.
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) May 13, 2019
Alai would later say the DCI offices are big, and that he needed more specific people to talk to.
At some point, he even alleged the DCI was colluding with the criminals to perpetuate corruption.
DCI HQs is BIG. Been there several times. Which office do you want me to visit? If you make it so cumbersome for people willing to share info, how do you do it yourself? Are you not obstructing justice by limiting willing witnesses?
Are you accomplices of the corrupt? Funny!!
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) May 13, 2019
The DCI knew they had nothing new to offer and Alai was quickly getting under their skin with his arrogance.
@RobertAlai,You can either visit @DCI_Kenya Headquarters Block B Room No.82 or email us as already advised. Thank you.
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) May 13, 2019
Alai was back to square one after the DCI’s clarification, seeking to be given a CID’s personal number.
DM the name of the specific person I should see.
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) May 13, 2019