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Kenya

State says MPs security intact

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 14 – The government has dismissed allegations by lawmakers Millie Odhiambo and Olago Aluoch that it had threatened to withdraw their security.

Government Spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua said the allegations made by the two MPs who sit on the Justice and Legal Affairs committees were serious and will be investigated.

The two MPs had alleged that they had been called by unknown persons who warned that their security would be withdrawn in what they linked to their hard-line positions over the controversial judicial nominations.

"The Government is very concerned with the serious public allegations made by Olago Aluoch and Millie Odhiambo that they had been threatened that their security would be withdrawn," Dr Mutua said.

"The Government wishes to make it clear that there has never been any plan to withdraw the MPs\’ security," he added.

In a statement posted on his official website, Dr Mutua urged the two legislators to record statements with the police to facilitate an investigation.

"The government wishes to investigate these alleged threats in a speedy and efficient manner.  Therefore, the Honourable members are encouraged to report to the police and to provide details of the alleged telephone threats."

The government now wants the two legislators to provide detectives with telephone numbers used to call them or send the alleged messages.

"The Honourable Members will be reassured to know that the government has the capacity to track down who called who, or who sent an SMS from which, and to which mobile phone," the statement added.

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"Even hidden mobile numbers can be tracked and found. The police are waiting so that they can launch investigations immediately," Dr Mutua said.

Police Spokesman Erick Kiraithe told Capital News that none of the MPs had formally reported the matter to them.

Mr Kiraithe said police were fully equipped and are able to investigate the matter expeditiously once the necessary details were provided to them.

When the two legislators made the allegations on Sunday, they linked the threats to the stands they had taken during the on-going deliberations on the judicial nominees by the committee that was meeting at the Windsor Golf Club last week.

"It\’s interesting that it comes at a time when I have made my position clear in this committee which is contrary to some positions that some people would want me to take," Ms Odhiambo said adding that she would not relent on her position over the nominations.

She claimed that two other top legislators had also received the same threats.

The Kisumu Town West MP on the other hand said the timing of the threats was suspicious.

"We are not able to get reason why there is a need at this stage to withdraw our security and this is information I intend to take up with the Commissioner of police and the Speaker of Parliament," Mr Aluoch said.

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