Former CS Matiang’i’s lawyer to apply for anticipatory bail following overnight police siege at his Karen residence

A battalion of lawyers led by lead counsel Danstan Omari acting on behalf of besieged former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is today morning expected to apply for anticipatory bail at the Milimani Law Courts over apparent impending arrest of their client following overnight police siege at his Karen residence in Nairobi.

The Informer Media Group has established Matiang’i will seek to make the application today morning.

Yesterday night, Omari led a team of advocates in condemning attempted police raid at Matiang’i’s residence and raised public outcry that the life of their client is in danger.

However, in a sharp twist of events, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has today morning said that neither were police officers sent to Matiang’i’s house nor is his office aware of such sanctioned operation.

Interestingly, Matiang’i and his lawyers have not presented any CCTV footage depicting such an attempted raid by the claimed officers.

Last night, opposition leader Raila Odinga drove from his nearby residence to the former CS home and condemned the move pointing an accusing finger to the president William Ruto’s administration of harassment and vindictiveness.

While briefing the media at the scene last night, Omari said a team of heavily armed police officers cordoned had Matiang’i’s home in what is believed to have been a pre-planned arrest attempt.

However, details remain scanty on whether he has any active ongoing probe by either the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) or the Assets Recovery Authority (ARA).

In 2018, Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC) parliamentary report recommended that two top State officials be held responsible for the loss of the Sh1.5billion Ruaraka land payout.

CPAIC also recommended investigations be launched against Matiang’i and the then who is also the current Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.

“The CS and PS be held responsible and further investigated, and if found culpable be prosecuted for occasioning the loss of Sh1.5 billion in line with Article 226(5) of the Constitution,” the report read in part.

CPAIC also criticised Matiang’i and Kipsang for ignoring the recommendations of a report of the ministry’s Quality Assurance and Standards Assessment that established the land was public.

The committee recommended that Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate within three months’ circumstances that led Matiang’i and Kipsang to ignore the ministry’s report.

CPAIC contradicts another done by the National Assembly’s Lands Committee, which did not make any recommendations on Matiang’i’s role in the saga involving Whispering Palms Ltd, Afrison Export Import Ltd and Huelands Limited.

“My client is holed up as if he is a former fugitive. We want to confirm to all Kenyans and the whole world that our client’s life is in danger.” Omari has said yesterday at night while keeping vigil at the compound.

Raila accused the president William Ruto of witch-hunt saying they are ready to defend any Kenyan including Matiang’i from vindictive measures by the current administration.

“I am shocked to hear of what is happening at this hour of the day. They say that the more things change the more they remain the same. We are now witnessing what this country has been through before. The time of late night arrests and detentions of people without any formal charges.” Raila has lamented.

High Court advocate Omari added that: “They want to arrest our client or no offense was disclosed. I can confirm to every Kenyan in this country that the life of Matiang’i is at risk. We do not know the intention of wanting to invade Matiang’i’s home at this time of the night. We don’t know where they want to arrest and take him. We do not know what offense he has committed.”

“Our client is ready to be summoned to go and appear before any police station and record a statement if they have anything to charge him with.” Omari has observed.

A team of political leaders and lawyers have camped at Matiang’i’s home which has turned into an epicenter of dramatic political overtures and police push to arrest their former boss.

Matiang’i made a recent public appearance while accompanying retired president Kenyatta and a host of his former cabinet colleagues when they visited the family of their late counterpart, Professor George Magoha who will be laid to rest this Saturday at his Umiru home in Gem.

Omari said their client is ready to submit himself and appear before any authority or agency is formal summons are issued against him but so far no offence has been disclosed against his client.