A group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Uasin Gishu has asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to provide information on the investigations that have been ongoing in regards to claims that some politicians were training a militia.
The CSOs led by their chairman Phillip Barno say delays by the police to inform members of the public in regards to the matter was raising unnecessary tension among locals.
Barno, in a media briefing in Eldoret town, said investigations into the matter should be concluded as soon as possible.
“Relevant authorities handling this matter should conclude their probe so that the truth comes out concerning this issue,” said the Uasin Gishu CSOs chairman.
Claims of militia training have been a subject of discussion among locals, after Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago was summoned by the DCI over the matter, alongside UDA gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Bii Chelilim alias Koti Moja and Cheptiret/Kipchamo MCA Gilbert Tenai.
The training is said to have taken place at Chebororwa Agricultural Training College, the same facility Mandago presided over a pass-out parade for county enforcement officers and firefighters.
Since the trio recorded their statements at the DCI regional headquarters in Nakuru, no official statement has ever been issued by the police.
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Stephen Kihara, when he hosted government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna about a fortnight ago said the matter was still under investigation.
“We’re on top of everything and investigations are still ongoing,” said Kihara.
But even as police keep locals guessing on whether the claims were true or not, the CSOs now want the matter to be put to rest as soon as possible.
Human Rights Activist Kimutai Kirui says the longer the police take in investigating the matter, the more anxiety they create among the locals.
“DCI should by now be able to tell us if there was a militia training or not. If there was, culprits should face the full force of the law. And if there was no such a thing, then those that spread the claims should also put account for their misleading utterances,” Kirui said.
“This is an issue that must be handled seriously,” he added.
While Mandago, Koti Moja and Tenai say there was no such a thing as militia training, billionaire businessman Zedekiah Kiprop alias Buzeki, the Uasin Gishu independent gubernatorial candidate insists the claims are true.
