Matiang'i Reveals How Gov't Prevented a Mass Massacre of Supporters Organized by NASA with the Help of Media

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has explained how the government prevented a mass massacre planned by National Super Alliance (Nasa) during the swearing-in of its leader Raila Odinga.

Speaking during a press briefing on the state of security in the country in Nairobi on Wednesday, the CS said that the decision to withdraw security officers from Uhuru Park grounds on Tuesday morning prevented the opposition from executing the plan.

Matiang'i said there was a "well-choreographed attempt to subvert or overthrow the legally constitutional government of Kenya".

"A massacre or catastrophe was going to happen there," Matiang'i told the press on Wednesday.

He said the plot was to place certain individuals to massacre supporters and then blame it on police.

"The investigations will extend to co-conspirators and facilitators. Upon completion of these investigations, appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with the law."

"Law agencies are working ... we will bring individuals to book .. we will arrest them ... we will govern according to the law. We will deal with crime," he said.

"NRM is a criminal organisation, not a political party, that is bent on mayhem and anarchy."

The CS further said that they had information that some media houses were involved in the planned massacre, and hence the reason for the media shutdown.

"We were aware of some elements in the media who participated in the furtherance of this illegal act," he said.

"Their complicity would have led to thousands of deaths of innocent Kenyans due to the buildup of the incitement that was witnessed in early hours."

He explained that media owners were given a full security brief ahead of the opposition "illegal activities", but chose to ignore it.

"Unfortunately, some media houses chose to disregard this advice, their own code of ethics, self regulation and the moral responsibility of every Kenyan to safeguard the security of there fellow citizens."

"As a result of what happened yesterday, we have commenced investigations targeting individuals," he said. "Media houses will remain closed until we complete investigations."