KAKAMEGA, KENYA: Drama erupted at Kakamega High Court premises on Monday when plain cloth police officers pounced on former Shinyalu legislator Justus Kizito executing a warrant of arrest.
Moments before the arrest, Mr Kizito was attending a different case in which he has accused sitting Shinyalu legislator Lisamula Anami and others of setting ablaze his vehicle.
In an interesting twist of events, the hunter became the hunted and this time it was Mr Kizito on the hook.
The officers waited patiently outside the court and upon stepping out, they grabbed him and demanded that he follows them to Vihiga court where he is said to have snubbed calls to attend a case filed against him by his workers.
Workers at his Aquinas Teachers Training College in Vihiga filed a case last year in November accusing the former lawmaker of failing to pay their dues for a period of 8 months.
When acting Principal Magistrate Pamela Achieng’ wrapped up the criminal charges against Mr Anami for a postponed mentioning on May 20, hell broke loose outside the court.
The officers who camouflaged themselves in plain clothes shoved supporters aside who had thronged to follow the first case and drove away with him.
His brown suit was tattered as he resisted attempts by the law enforcers to throw him into their car. Heated exchanges ensued as Mr Kizito yelled at the officers saying his quest to seek justice was turning political.
“This is political, I know this is a planned scheme to fade the charges I have filed against my competitor, I have never seen a skewed system as this,” fired a charged Kizito.
Irate supporters turned angrily at the police questioning the manner in which he was manhandled despite not indicating signs of refusal to comply with the arrest.
“ Why should police pounce on him today? Why today when he is following up his case; this is unacceptable!” shouted a supporter.
Vihiga County Labour Officer Winnie Otieno who was part of the mission said there was nothing unlawful with the arrest insisting that Mr Kizito had failed to undertake his obligations to pay workers and instead the labourers sought help from her office.
“He was charged and supposed to attend to court last year in November, he ignored court summons. That is why we decided to come here; the workers are crying,” observed Otieno.
Earlier in court, Magistrate Achieng’ ordered that the case against Mr Anami be consolidated on accused persons and be fully mentioned on 20 May in what she said was a move to ensure time management.
Mr Anami is accused jointly with others of setting ablaze Mr Kizito’s Range Rover Vogue on March 4 this year At Lugango village in Kakamega East.
A few weeks ago he was released on a Sh100, 000 bond and a warrant of arrest lifted against him after presenting himself before law enforcers.
Source:standardmedia.co.ke
