Wednesday 4 November 2015

We’re in danger, Muranga MCAs say



Members of the Murang’a county assembly are living in fear over what they term as continuous intimidation and threats to their security and personal properties.

This follows reports that some of them have been receiving threats for voting in favor of motion to have the governor Mwangi wa Iria removed from office.

Speaking to the press at the assembly, Kamacharia MCA Joseph Machiri said, following the impeachment, the members have more than once expressed concern pertaining insults, intimidation and threats to their security, personal properties and county assembly assets.

Machiri said over the past two weeks, one of the ward representative’s houses was stoned after receiving threatening messages and also his business premises was burned down by goons.

He said that this was a plot to intimidate the members who supported the motion adding that the threats are becoming intolerable and the matters is getting out of hand.

“On October 20th 2015, the eve of governor’s impeachment motion, there was an attempted arson to the assembly particularly the speaker’s boardroom and the assembly van, on 21st staff members could not access the assembly precincts since the main gate had been chained by unknown people,” Machiri said

Machiri added that on 7th September, prior to the notice of the motion to impeach finance executive George Kamau, the assembly was under attack by suspected goons who tried to disrupt and halt the day’s business but police intervened and contained the situation.

The MCAs have now called upon the governor Wa Iria to clear his name on any involvement either directly or indirectly as he remained totally silent and did not condemn the heinous acts.

They at the same time want the Murang’a county commissioner Kula Hache and her team to enhance security and also said that they are not happy with the state of security.

‘It is three weeks down and the police have not been able to arrest any suspect, we are requesting them to take necessary steps on the culprits and we also call upon the governor and his supporters to desist from insulting leaders and residents,” Machiri noted

Gitugi MCA Duncan Njuguna said he was forced to relocate his family to undisclosed location in Nairobi after receiving threatening message on his life on 19th of last month.

The message which read,”wewe jihadhari sana hiyo mdomo yako, tena sana Zaidi,”
Njuguna said he did not take the threat lightly and reported the matter to Murang’a CID where the officers launched investigations.

‘Our lives and properties have been threatened and we feel our families are not safe at all, we urge the police to take the threats seriously,” Njuguna said

Wangu ward MCA Isaac Kamote narrated how he was harassed and insulted by a governor supporter after they met on 24th of last month on the road as he was driving to his home.

‘The supporter called me unprintable names threatening to beat me up and I reported to the police because I could not take the threats lightly but no action has been takenso far”, Kamote remarked.

They said that their duty is to oversight, adding that they will not be cowed and will continue doing as mandated by the constitution.

By Reuben wanyama