Gunmen were after my life, says Wetang’ula

Forensic experts at Kilimani Police Station inspect the car belonging to Bungoma Senator-elect Moses Wetangula that was reportedly shot at along Ngong Road. On Friday confusion followed reports of the Thursday night gun attack with Cord and the police giving conflicting versions of the incident. Mr Wetang’ula, who was unhurt, said the attack was political and accused the Jubilee Government of trying to kill him. PHOTO/ANTHONY OMUYA.  NATION

In Summary

• Police said they were investigating reports by Mr Wetang’ula that gunmen had fired at his car as he was being driven on Mbagathi Way towards Ngong Road, Nairobi, at 11pm.
• Jubilee leaders dismissed the assassination claims with the National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale saying: “The Jubilee government has no time for individual politicians.
• There was a scratch and a dent near the rooftop of the car,” said station commander Peter Katam, who added that Mr Wetangula’s account could not be overruled until ballistic experts had given their opinion.

By LUCAS BARASA
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By FRED MUKINDA
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Confusion Friday followed reports of a Thursday night gun attack on Bungoma Senator-elect Moses Wetang’ula with Cord and the police giving conflicting versions of the incident.

Police said they were investigating reports by Mr Wetang’ula that gunmen had fired at his car as he was being driven on Mbagathi Way towards Ngong Road, Nairobi, at 11pm.

Mr Wetang’ula, who was unhurt, said the attack was political and accused the Jubilee Government of trying to kill him.

He said he was being driven from Panari Hotel at 10.30pm where he had stopped after arriving from Mombasa by flight when his vehicle was shot at three times.

“We heard a loud bang on the car.

It was so loud that I dropped my phone out of fright. My driver slowed down then I heard my security officer who is a GSU officer shout at him, those are bullets don’t stop, get moving.

The driver picked up speed and drove to a police roadblock near China centre,” he said.

“This is something that we take very seriously. I came out of a bruising by-election culminating from a state engineered petition.

The government poured resources to my opponents who were escorted by GK vehicles during the campaigns,” he said, adding that he reported the matter at Kilimani Police Station together with his driver and escort.

Jubilee leaders dismissed the assassination claims with the National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale saying: “The Jubilee government has no time for individual politicians.

‘‘What we want is to implement our manifesto that we promised Kenyans. Every day there’s insecurity everywhere in the country including Nairobi.”

Lone gunman

He said Mr Wetang’ula could be the target of his own rivals in Cord following his announcement that he would vie for the presidency in 2017.

“I am ready to record a statement on that. We are yet to see more.

He should blame Cord after declaring candidature for presidency in 2017. Maybe his competitors in Cord want to eliminate him,” he said.

Nairobi police Chief Benson Kibui said they were looking for a “lone gunman,” as claimed in the report by the politician, his driver and bodyguard.

(READ: Moses Wetangula's car was not shot at, says Inspector General David Kimaiyo)

But investigators who examined the grey Toyota Prado at the city’s Kilimani Police Station said the damage did not look like it had been caused by a bullet.

“At the moment we cannot ascertain that the impact seen on the vehicle was caused by a bullet.

There was a scratch and a dent near the rooftop of the car,” said station commander Peter Katam, who added that Mr Wetangula’s account could not be overruled until ballistic experts had given their opinion.

“The initial observation is not conclusive and so we have asked ballistic experts to examine the vehicle again and give us an informed opinion,” he said.

The experts who visited the station said they did not spot any gunman.

But Cord politicians led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga dismissed the police claims as propaganda, insisting that the incident was an attempt on the former minister’s life.

“That is nonsense. Mr Wetang’ula is not insane to do that. Let the investigations be done and the people be told the truth,” said Mr Odinga, adding that Mr Wetangula’s guard was an experienced GSU officer who could tell a gun attack.

“I was able to visit the scene today (Friday) together with the Senator and it is clear to everybody the shooting was unusual,” he said.\

Waiting for him

“The onus is now on the police to thoroughly investigate this matter and tell us who was responsible and why.

For now we take it as an assassination attempt on the Senator, ”said Mr Odinga, adding that the former Senate minority leader had received many death threats in the past.

Mr Kibui said they had ordered thorough and quick investigations since they were taking the matter seriously.

He said: “The matter is being taken very seriously. A report was made and it must be investigated.

The investigators would want to look back and establish who would have been waiting there for the Senator and how they would have known he would be on that road at that time.”

The police chief said they would also rely on people who had witnessed the incident and that they would hold the vehicle at the station until investigators were satisfied that all evidence had been examined.

But Mr Katam said the Senator had not reported any threats on his life prior to the alleged incident.

“Am not sure about the death threats because it has not been brought to my attention.

Unless it was reported elsewhere,” he added.

National Assembly Security Committee chairman Asman Kamama asked the police to investigate the incident and beef up the Senator’s security.

“When an MP or Senator complains, his security should be beefed up.

The complaint should be taken seriously, investigated and in the meantime, the Inspector-General of Police should beef up his security.

We don’t want issues to arise when he is not there to complain in future,” he said on the telephone.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and MP Fred Wangamati, claimed Mr Wetang’ula had been threatened after criticising the award of Sh1.3 trillion rail contract to a Chinese company.

“I got a threatening message last week when I spoke about the railway tender.

It said wachana na mambo ya reli (leave the rail issue alone),” he said, adding that the message was from a Mr Kuria, a politician he knew and whose number he had saved.

Mr Wetang’ula said he had also received threats three times before his re-election and that he had written to Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo stating that his life was in danger.

“However, instead of beefing up my security, those who usually guard my residence were reduced from two to one.

The one remaining is unreliable because sometimes he reports to work and sometimes doesn’t,” he said.

Cord Senators blamed police for taking too much time to begin investigations, with Siaya Senator James Orengo saying no police officer had contacted Mr Wetang’ula although the incident was reported immediately.