Midiwo maintains Raila 'death plot' true

Written By:Carol Gakii,    Posted: Sat, Apr 21, 2012

Speaking to KBC on phone, Midiwo said he is ready to appear in court to defend his statement Gem Member of Parliament Jakoyo Midiwo maintains that his statement that there was a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga is true. Midiwo says he is not cowed by the decision by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko to charge him for giving false information. Speaking to KBC on phone from Pretoria South Africa Saturday, Midiwo said he is ready to appear in court to defend his statement. The MP said that the DPP should have specified which part of his statement was untrue before charging him. He also accused the police of failing to carry out proper investigations into his claims. On Friday, Tobiko directed the police to arrest Midiwo after upholding their recommendations that the ODM chief whip be charged with giving false information. "I have perused the investigation file with recommendation that the legislator be charged for giving false information and I am satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to charge him," the DPP said. "I have directed the Police Commissioner to immediately arrest and charge him in court." Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere handed over the police report into the claims by Midiwo to Tobiko on Thursday. Tobiko said he was satisfied with the investigations and that the joint Government Chief Whip should face charges for giving police false information. During a funeral in Bondo District two weeks ago, Midiwo sensationally claimed that there was a plot to eliminate the premier saying he was ready to give evidence to police. He alleged that mercenaries had been hired to execute the plot adding that senior government officials were in the loop. He later recorded a statement at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters, Nairobi, on the basis of which detectives questioned more than 10 people. Police launched investigations with several people including Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. Sam Ongeri recording statements over the assassination claims. The sensitive issue which elicited sharp reactions also attracted the Kibunja led National Cohesion and Integrated Commission which received credible reports regarding tensions mounting between the Luo and Kisii communities following the statements made by Midiwo. Midiwo who is also the joint government chief whip is in Pretoria, South Africa on Parliamentary business.