In April this year, Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala was arrested and charged at the Busia law courts.
He was charged for endangering the safety of an aircraft and its passengers, undermining the authority of a public officer, and incitement to violence. But this wasn’t his first brush with the law.
Mhesh also cooled his soles in the cells when his supporters clashed with those of former Budalangi MP, Ababu Namwamba over Sigiri Bridge.
But Wanjala’s first highly publicised arrest was in India, alongside businesswoman Joyce Akinyi, when they were arrested for trying to enter the country with an undeclared amount of money.
“I had more than Sh10 million with me at the time,” he told The Nairobian.
“The police were shocked to see me walking with money in my pocket. I was arrested but later released. The money was handed back to me and I proceeded with what I had gone to do in India,” he said.
Wanjala believes that getting arrested is not peculiar to him as most successful politicians have been guests of stinky cells and prisons around the country.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto were at The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) and ended up leading the country,” he said. “Even my party leader Raila Odinga was arrested, but today he is so powerful that he if declared tomorrow to be a public holiday, some government officials will not step in their offices,” he added.
Wanjala was encouraging Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong who was arrested over corruption allegations to remain strong despite spending two nights in police cells.
Ojaamong said the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was cursed the day he was handcuffed and taken to Milimani law courts, yet he had surrendered himself at the Integrity Centre early this month.
“People have stolen billions of shillings but EACC is focusing on me for signing an agreement worth Sh8 million,” Ojamoong said.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said Ojaamong’s predicament was a passing cloud and promised that he will soon be vindicated.
“We condemn corruption, but EACC and the DPP should not deal with small things to divert the attention of people, let them fight real corruption because our economy is ailing due to massive graft,” Wetang’ula said.
-sde.co.ke
