A section of leaders from Kitui County have protested the arrest of Nguni MCA and Deputy Minority leader Jeremiah Mutua alias Nzou in relation to Somali camel herders and locals clashes.
The MCA who was arrested by NCIC officers at Myuuni is detained in Embu awaiting arraignment in court on Monday.
“A suspect namely Hon. Jeremiah Mutua a member of Kitui County Assembly representing Nguni Ward was today arrested by officers from NCIC for the offence of ethnic contempt contrary to section 62(1) of NCIC Act No. 12 of 2008. He was apprehended at Miyuni Apostolic Church with some resistance from rowdy residents during the arrest. He had earlier said that Camel herders are given 24 hours to move out of Kamba land in Sosoma, Mwanzele, and Ukasi, or else he sends his rescue team. ” A police report on his arrest read in part.
Kitui East MP Nimrod Mboi condemned the arrest saying despite 6 locals being killed this year no one had been arrested. He threatened to mobilize for blocking of Mwingi-Garissa Highway if the MCA was not released.
“Our people have lost their lives in the hands of Somali camel herders for long. Nguni MCA has been arrested for speaking for his people. 6 people have been killed this year and nobody has been arrested. What message are you sending? our people are monkeys.” Mbai said.
“That has not been done by Ruto’s government it cannot do such. Whoever did this doesn’t have a sober mind, if Jeremiah Mutua is not released no vehicle will pass Mwingi going to Garissa.” He added.
Ikanga/Kyatune Ward MCA Cyrus Musyoka Sonko also called for the immediate release of the Nguni MCA expressing concerns about the circumstances surrounding Nzou’s arrest, particularly the lack of communication and transparency.
Sylvester Munyalo Matinyani MCA condemned the arrest asking Kitui people to defend the MCA as lives of Kitui people are more important than camels.
“What Jeremiah spoke was not in bad faith, he was defending his people of Nguni. That is not incitement if his people have been killed and he said it was wrong and he was told the camels would be grazed there forcefully. Let him be released, Kitui people must stand with Jeremiah. Camels cannot be more important than lives of our people. I hear the camels belong to senior government officials.” Munyalo said.
“If Comrade Hon Jeremiah Mutua isn’t released unconditionally, we are blocking Mwingi – Garissa road. No Garissa board bus will go Nguni market.” Mutonguni MCA Benjamin Mulandi added.
After Mutua’s arrest, his supporters blocked Thika – Garissa highway in Nguni and Ukasi. The police however managed to clear the road.
The MCA was released Sunday evening following the day-long arrest after intervention by Kitui East MCA Nimrod Mbai and other leader.
