Police Deny Kalonzo's Claims of Being Held Hostage During Raila Swearing-in

Police have denied claims by National Super Alliance (Nasa) principal Kalonzo Musyoka that he, together with fellow co-principals Moses Wetang'ula and Musalia Mudavadi were placed under house arrest during the swearing in of Raila Odinga as people's president on Tuesday.

Addressing the press on Wednesday, Police spokesman Charles Owino said the claims by the Wiper leader were untrue, terming the claims as political.

"That is a political question and he (Kalonzo) has given you a political answer and I am apolitical and don't draw me to politics.

“It is not true and he was not under house arrest," Mr Owino said.

The trio failed to attend the inauguration ceremony at Uhuru Park on Tuesday, where Odinga was sworn in as people's president in front of thousands of supporters.

Speaking to the media at his residence on Tuesday evening, Kalonzo said that the three of them were held hostage by police at a location he didn't mention. He said this was after all their bodyguards were withdrawn the previous night.

“I had a phone conversation with Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula and we agreed that we meet and then arrange how we will go to Uhuru Park since we did not have our bodyguards. We however did not do that so after myself, Wetang'ula and Mudavadi found ourselves locked in one room,” he said.

He continued: “That is what happened but as my brother Raila said, I am ready at an appropriate time to go and take the oath so that everyone may see that we did not get cold feet.”

“Many saw on the television stations how the officers who guard this place were recalled very early in the morning. Each of them was told that if they are seen there, they will be fired so I was left all alone,” he stated.