Gov't Denies Police Officers Raided Matiang'i's Karen Home

The government has denied reports that police officers were sent to former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s home on Wednesday night to arrest him.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome on Thursday said police were not involved in the alleged raid, where a contingent of heavily-armed officers reportedly surrounded Matiang'i's home in Karen, Nairobi.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki similarly dismissed the reports as false, insisting that no police officers were sent to Matiang'i's home to arrest him.

"Dr. Matiangi’s lawyers and some politicians who spoke from the scene alleged that the said persons were police officers sent to arrest the former Cabinet Secretary. This allegation is utterly FALSE," Kindiki said in a statement.

He added:"No police officer(s) or any security agent from any Government institution or department was dispatched to the home of Dr. Matiang’i to arrest, harass or otherwise interfere with his Constitutional rights in any manner whatsoever."

Kindiki maintained that the security agencies remain apolitical and focused on addressing the security challenges facing the country.

He also urged anyone with information regarding the incident to file a complaint at the nearest police stations to aid in investigations.

On Wednesday night, Matiang’i’s attorney Danstan Omari told reporters outside his home that the security officers intended to arrest his client. 

"I can confirm that the life of Matiang'i is at risk. We don't know the intention of wanting to invade Matiang'i's home at this time of the night. We don't know what offence he has committed,” he said.  

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga, who also spoke at Matiang’i’s home said: “We are now witnessing what this country has been through before…the times of late-night arrests and detention without any charges. There is no reason why police should be coming to somebody's home at this hour of the night when people are asleep."