NAIROBI, KENYA: An immigration officer who temporarily blocked Chief Justice Willy Mutunga from boarding a plane at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while demanding that he gets clearance from the Office of the President has been interdicted.
The National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) made the announcement after meeting on Tuesday.
The committee chaired by Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia also appointed a team to lead investigations into threats made to the CJ.
The committee members are Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko and Attorney General Githu Muigai and they will present their findings on Monday.
The officer had barred the CJ from travelling to Dar-es-Salaam until he gets clearance from the Head of Public Service, Mr Francis Kimemia.
“The government highly regrets that the CJ was subjected to such kind of treatment and undertakes to urgently investigate the matter. In the meantime, the officer involved in the incident has been interdicted to pave way for the investigations,” said part of a statement by NSAC sent to newsrooms.
The statement added a circular issued on those who should seek clearance from the Office of the President did not include the CJ, Judiciary and the National Assembly.
It added that there is a protocol officer at the airport is there to ensure all VIPs travel with ease and are accorded appropriate protocols.
The meeting was held to deliberate on Dr Mutunga’s assertions that his life is in danger and he had been harassed at the airport.
Kimemia summoned the meeting on Wednesday after also being criticized of harassing the CJ by requiring that he and other judicial officers be cleared by his office.
The CJ has complained of receiving death threats and being harassed by immigration officers at the Airport.
Apart from Kimemia, National Intelligence Service Director General Michael Gichangi, internal security Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo, his Foreign Affairs counterpart Thuita Mwangi and Kimaiyo with his deputies Grace Kaindi and Samuel Arachi sit on the committee.
Attorney General Githu Muigai and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Julius Karangi also attended the meeting.
