Nairobi News

A Member of Parliament accused of assaulting and raping a woman last Saturday recorded a fresh statement with the police on Thursday.

Imenti Central MP Gideon Mwiti was recalled after an investigator from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions noted that his previous account was full of contradictions.

The new statement was recorded by an investigating officer based in Parklands since the lead investigator, Mr Daniel Kandie, had been summoned to the headquarters in connection with the case.

At the same time, the woman’s lawyer, Mr Harun Ndubi, said attempts to settle the matter out of court were tantamount to subverting the course of justice.

Her family called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to quickly investigate the case and allegations that investigating officers were seen eating and drinking with the accused.

PILING PRESSURE

“Failure to do so will amount to a bold statement that the Kenyan Constitution and law favour the rich and mighty while the poor and non- influential people are left to the whims of the powerful,” said Mr Ndubi in a statement.

In the past few days, some legislators and human rights activists have been piling pressure on the police to speed up investigations.

Mr Mwiti was accompanied by his lawyer, Dr John Khaminwa, when he turned up at the Parklands Police Station on Thursday.

Dr Khaminwa said his client had been summoned by the police but they did not meet the DCIO.

“He was asked to come here and he complied. He asked me to accompany him but the officer handling the matter is not here,” he told journalists at the station.

A number of witnesses have so far recorded statements with the police. One of the key witnesses is a taxi driver who picked up the victim on Woodvale Grove in Nairobi and took her close to Jacaranda Hotel, where she had parked her car.

The taxi driver, who sought anonymity, said he was approached by the woman in torn clothes. She asked him to drop her off where she had left her vehicle.

The woman, who claims she was raped by the legislator on the night of March 21, had been consulting at his land buying company, which he started last year.

Mr Mwiti, who was behind a pyramid scheme in which unsuspecting Kenyans lost billions of shillings, formed the Kenya Lands Sacco, a financial and investment company. Interested individuals register with the firm and buy at least 50 shares, each going for Sh100.

His office is situated on the fifth floor of Krishna Centre, Westlands

All the shares bought, according to the family policy, are redeemable within a minimum period of 12 months.

ACTIVISTS PROTEST

However, one can also have a contract of 36 months before he or she redeems or transfers the shares.

Those interested are expected to save as little as Sh100 daily and can access loans for businesses and for the purchase of houses, land and cars, among other things.

On Thursday, human rights activists took to the streets, demanding justice for victims of sexual violence by male MPs.

The demonstrators, both men and women, later presented a petition to Parliament through female MPs who had come out to address them.

The Office of the Inspector-General of Police was also served with a copy of the document.