Officials investigating Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa over last week’s gun drama that left one dead were on Tuesday forced to change the venue of her interrogation at the last minute in fear of her supporters.
According to Malindi Sub County Criminal Investigations Officer Anthony Sunguti, his team had planned to grill the legislator at the Malindi Police Station but Jumwa’s supporters showed up to the venue in worrying numbers.
A group of locals affiliated to a rival political faction had also turned up at the venue, creating a tense mood.
To avoid tension during the exercise, the detectives instead had Jumwa record her statement at the Malindi Airport Police Station as her supporters camped outside the initial venue for hours awaiting her arrival.
“She is not coming here. She will record her statement either in Kilifi Town or at the airport,” a senior police after told the press long after Jumwa had reported to the Airport Police Station.
The fiery MP was grilled for two hours over the incident where she is said to have stormed a meeting at an ODM politician’s house claiming foul play, prior to the Ganda Ward by-election that was held last week.
Jumwa’s actions reportedly escalated into a violent confrontation that left one Gumbalo Jola, an uncle to the host of the disputed meeting and the ODM contestant in the by-election, dead.
Consequently, Jumwa was arrested and arraigned in court but was released on a Ksh 500,000 bail.
Although the person who fired the bullet that killed Jola has not yet been identified, it has emerged that Jumwa’s aide, Geoffrey Okuto, has in the past been arrested for misuse of firearms.
Police reports indicate that Okuto, who had vied for a civic seat in Mathare Constituency in 2017, fired live ammunition at supporters of his opponent during ODM nomination campaigns.
Okuto was released alongside Jumwa on Thursday and their fate will be known after detectives complete their 21-day investigations into the case.
ODM candidate Reuben Katana has since been declared the MCA elect for the Ward.