Police on Wednesday evening seized vehicles belonging NASA MPs in the latest government crackdown on leaders who attended the swearing-in of Raila Odinga as the "People's President" on January 30.
National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi and Minority Whip Junet Mohamed had their vehicles impounded after the police laid in wait outside parliament for the leaders.
playJunet Mohamed (left) and John Mbadi (centre) during a past press conference. Mbadi and Mohamed had their vehicles impounded after the police laid in wait outside parliament for the leaders. (Standard)Independent Parliament
“They act in the most crude manner. They stop you on the road and tell you and your driver to alight then take your belongings before speeding away with the car. The vehicles belong to Parliament, which is independent. I don’t understand why one arm of the government should cede its powers to another.” Mohamed said.
The leaders said they had reliable information that the government had plans to seize the vehicles of all all Nasa leaders in Parliament.
playEmbakasi East MP Paul Ongili Owino aka Babu Owino in handcuffs at the Milimani law court, Nairobi, September 26, 2017. Owino claimed officers in six police vehicles were outside parliament waiting to arrest him on Wednesday. (The Star)
In a related incident, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino said he would spend the night at Parliament Buildings, claiming officers in six police vehicles were outside waiting to arrest him.
“I know the vehicles very well. They have been used before to arrest some leaders and I have been reliably informed that they are waiting for me. I am tired of being arrested. I want to work for the people of Embakasi East. I ask Kenyans of goodwill to bring me a mattress and food,” Owino appealed.
Latest crackdown
The move by the police to seize the vehicles is the latest action that has seen a crackdown on NASA leaders who attended the swearing-in of Odinga.
Last week, Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang, Makadara MP George Aladwa and National Resistance Movement General Miguna Miguna were all arrested by the police on charges of participating in an illegal oath and treason as well as planning Raila's swearing-in.
Kajwang and Aladwa were later released on bond while Miguna was deported to Canada.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi through a statement declared that Miguna was not a Kenyan citizen and that is why he ordered for his deportation under the powers vested by section 43 (1) of the Kenyan Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011.
