Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah and Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli could be summoned to court to explain what they know about abductions across the country.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru on Wednesday told Justice Bahati Mwamuye the National Assembly Majority leader should be summoned over his remarks at a funeral in Bungoma last week.
Ichung’wah and Atwoli said some Kenyans were abducting themselves ostensibly to seek ransom from their families and relatives.
They made the remarks during the burial of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s mother in Kabuchai, Bungoma county, last Friday.
Ndegwa told Justice Mwamuye the two leaders have crucial information that will help the court to make appropriate directions in the case where Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DCI Mohamed Amin and other high-ranking officials in the security agencies have been sued over the abductions.
The court has already summoned Kanja to appear without fail on January 27 to explain the whereabouts of those abducted and to show cause why he should not be cited for contempt.
Ndegwa said he would make an application requiring Ichung’wah and Atwoli to be summoned to be cross-examined by the petitioners in court.
The judge gave the petitioners seven days to put in their supplementary affidavits, which will also be heard on January 27.
Senior counsel Kalonzo Musyoka, who is also representing the petitioners, said it was reckless for Atwoli and Ichung’wah to make the remarks that trivilised the serious issue of abductions.
“It is so unfortunate and an abuse of the intelligence of the Kenyan people. Kenyans are wiser and that is why these people must be summoned to explain their remarks,” Kalonzo said in court.
The Wiper party leader, who later addressed reporters outside the courtroom, said they will keep piling pressure on President William Ruto and his administration until all those who have been abducted are released.
“Eighty-two people have so far been abducted since July, according to figures with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. We are going to keep piling pressure until all of them are released.”
Among those yet to be found is Wajir MCA Yusuf Hussein, who was abducted in Nairobi in September last year.
Kalonzo said it was upon President Ruto to live up to his promise to stop abductions that he made in December while in Homa Bay.
