Sunday, May 22, 2011

MP fears for life, blames presidential rivals

Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi speaks during a press conference on May 22, 2011. Armed thugs broke into his house and stole household items of unknown value last week. PHOTO / JENNIFER MUIRURI
Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi speaks during a press conference on May 22, 2011. Armed thugs broke into his house and stole household items of unknown value last week. PHOTO / JENNIFER MUIRURI
By ASHLEY LIME alime@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, May 22 2011 at 14:04

Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi has expressed fears for his life after armed thugs broke into his house last week and made away with household goods of unknown value.
The legislator was on a foreign trip during the Thursday incident in which five armed gangsters broke into his house demanding for him. His wife and children were in the house.
The hooded gang left three hours later with items of an unknown value including electronic gadgets, jewellery, clothes and shoes.
“On Thursday last week at approximately 2.30am, five men dressed in balaclavas and armed with all manner of weapons including an AK47 and an axe forced their way into my residence in Nairobi. They asked for me several times in what appeared to be a carefully planned mission,” said Mr Musyimi at a press conference.
The legislator also confirmed that no attacks were made on members of his family.
“If someone comes to your house at 2.30 in the night with weapons and stays for three hours looking for you, can you say you are safe?”
Mr Musyimi alluded to a conspiracy by his political rivals to eliminate him since he was planning to vie for presidency in next year’s general election.
“We all know that elections in this country are now accompanied by an ugly and tragic narrative. If what occurred last week is in any way linked to the possibility of my candidature, that would be very unfortunate,” said Mr Musyimi.
According to the MP, his intention to vie for the presidency has sparked debate around the country since 2007 when he left advocacy to join politics.
“Kenyan politics has its owners. When names of those aspiring for political positions start flying around, eyebrows are raised by owners of power, who are also owners of wealth,” said Mr Musyimi.
Mr Musyimi said consultative meetings on his presidential candidature have been ongoing and a decision will be made by July.
In less than two months a decision will be made in this regard. When it happens, I will go public, he said.
The legislator, who also the chair of the Parliamentary departmental committee on Lands and Natural Resources also said that his life could be in danger because of the committee's decision to clear Water Minister Charity Ngilu of corruption allegations.

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