MP David Pkosing released after grilling, denies owning white chopper or funding banditry

Pokot South Member of Parliament David Pkosing has been released from police custody following his arrest on Thursday evening in his office at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Pkosing was released at around 10:30pm after hours of grilling by detectives at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters over allegations of facilitating and the operations of bandits in Northern Kenya.

The MP, speaking to the press after his release, claimed he was queried about reports that he posted bond for 7 young Pokot boys who – according to him – the police consider bandits.

However, the legislator denied even having met the said boys, however acknowledging that he indeed posted their bond upon their release by court as they come from his community and he felt that they had been wrongly arrested in the first place.

Pkosing claimed that the 7 were actually the owners of over 200 heads of cattle that had just been killed by bandits, and were arrested while checking on their cows, then briefly detained at Lokichar before being transferred to Kitale where they were arraigned and freed on bond.

“Nashangaa sana ya kwamba mimi nashikwa kwa sababu naambiwa ati nilishikia watoto bond ambao walikuwa kutoka Masol, Pokot, na wamecondemn hao ya kwamba ni criminals, na kwa hivyo hawakutaka wapewe bond. Mimi ata sijui majina yao, sijawai kukutana nao. What I know is that they’re innocent boys, and that is why the court had seen it fit to release them on bond,” he said.

“Mimi ni mtu wa amani, I was in the peace and justice commission before I became an MP, kila mtu anajua hivyo, na mimi sijawai andika statement ya police anywhere in my life.”

The MP went ahead to allege that he had been forewarned of his arrest by a high-ranking government official, whom he vowed to name when he returns to the DCI headquarters to answer further questions on Friday morning as directed.

“WaPokot sio criminals, na hatuwezi kuleta amani kwa hii njia ya kuintimidate leaders. Na kama mtu alitaka niwe intimidated ili nisiongee na wenzangu kuhusu waPokot, nataka niwaambie I will never stop speaking about our people who are suffering,” he stated.

“Na mimi nafikiri kuna watu wanaskuma hii maneno, kuna mtu alinipigia simu jana na akaniambia Pkosing utaona. Na mimi ntakuja hapa kesho I will name that person.”

Pkosing was flanked by his lawyer Danstan Omari, who categorically stated that the MP does not own any white chopper that is said to have been transporting bandits from one area in the North to another to wreck havoc.

The advocate went ahead to castigate the manner in which police officers reportedly stormed Pkosing’s office and took him into custody, intimating that a mere summon would’ve sufficed and he would’ve honoured it.

“My client was, in a very humiliating manner, picked from the precincts of his offices, and dragged to the DCI on allegations that he is the mastermind...the person funding...the architect of the banditry in North Rift Valley,” said Omari.

“He has given his version of the story. He has never owned a white chopper, and it is all over that the alleged chopper that is supposed to be funding or transporting the bandits is white. Mheshimiwa has accounted for all the days since this issue started, and that is why he has been released to go home; he’s not under any police custody.”

Omari also reiterated Pkosing’s remarks about being warned by a government official in the level of a Cabinet Secretary, stating that the aforementioned has no powers to arrest anybody.

According to the lawyer, the legislator’s arrest was merely a political affair as he belongs to the opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party wing of politics.

“The issue in this matter is that Mheshimiwa was warned by a Cabinet Secretary that he will be arrested; that is not the way, because the CS has no mandate at all to arrest. Article 244/245 gives the Inspector General of Police absolute power to arrest; he only takes direction pursuant to Article 157 from the Director of Public Prosecutions. That is why Mheshimiwa’s arrest was a political witch-hunt,” claimed Omari.

“Mheshimiwa comes from the Azimio wing of the politics of this country, he is the first one to be arrested, and we’re urging the government not to politicise the war against banditry. Mheshimiwa could’ve been summoned, or his lawyers or the Speaker could’ve been told that Mheshimiwa is required here. This is an act of humiliation, an act of devaluing the dignity of the honourable MP.”

He further added: “We want to thank the DCI; the DCI has handled Mheshimiwa very professionally, they have understood his explanation, and that is why he has been released on PP5 form. He will be required to be here tomorrow morning for further clarification. We have also demanded those who are putting complaints against Mheshimiwa to record a statement, then he can respond appropriately.”