'Mbugua supporters' arrested at JKIA for assaulting MP Muthama

Tuesday, 12 April 2011 00:03 BY STAR REPORTER

BATTLEFIELD: Former Kamukunji MP Mbugua is seen pelting stones at ODM supporters in Makongeni, Nairobi yesterday.

TWO men were arrested when they attempted to assault Kangundo MP Johnston Muthama at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport arrivals lounge yesterday. The two were said to be supporters of former Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua. He could not be reached for comment.
The two who forced their way into the international arrivals lounge were arrested during the welcoming of politicians Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang at the airport. The three are returning from the The Hague where they had gone to answer summons in connection with the post-election violence.
Muthama, who is among a coterie of 40 MPs who has accompanied the six post election violence suspects to The Hague said he was in the arrival lounge when Mbugua and some of his supporters forced their way in.
Muthama said he was threatened with a knife for his support of Yusuf Hassan as ODM-K in the forthcoming Kamkunji by-election. Mbugua lost the seat after a successful petition by ODM's Ahmed "Johnny" Ibrahim.“They had three knives. I don’t know how they passed through the airport security check,” said Muthama.
Muthama, who is one of the joint Chief Whip's claimed Mbugua had called him several times while he was in The Netherlands and threatened him for allegedly interfering with the forthcoming by-elections.“He told me that I should stop pushing for a Somali candidate in Kamukunji. That is all nonsense. I believe in Kenyans and not tribes. I will support anyone who is a Kenyan,” added Muthama.
The Kenya Airport Police Unit CID chief Joseph Ngisa said two people had been arrested and they will be charged as soon as investigations were completed. He declined to say whether the suspects were armed with knives or not.
Later, Mbugua and his supporters were involved in another altercation at Makongeni when they were confronted by young men who had lit bonfires and were trying to block the Uhuru-Ruto convoy from the JKIA to Uhuru Park.
On Friday last week, Mbugua led his supporters in attacking the Star political reporter Geoffrey Mosoku for allegedly writing negative stories about him. Mosoku later reported the incident at the Central Police Station.