Cleophas Malala records statement on Matungu by-election violence
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala addresses the press outside Kakamega Police Station on March 8, 2021 after recording a statement following on violence during the Matungu Consituency by-election on March 4.
What you need to know:
- The senator was arrested on Monday after he surrendered to local police officers following a summons from the DCI.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala was arrested on Monday after he surrendered to local police officers following a summons from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in connection with violence during the Matungu by-election last week.
Mr Malala presented himself to the police at 9.30am and was released after about three hours.
County Police Commander Hassan Barua said the senator was released on cash bail and will appear in court on Wednesday.
"We arrested him alongside some other people who caused violence in Matungu,” the police commander said.
Rigging claims
Speaking after his release, Mr Malala said he was summoned by the DCI in Kakamega and that he recorded a statement on the chaotic mini election in Matungu.
"I was the chief agent of the ANC party. I explained what I knew about the poll," he said.
"I explained raising the concern that the ODM party was planning to rig the election and stated all the avenues they exploited to ensure victory for their candidate David Were," he added.
He claimed the Amani National Congress, whose leader is politician Musalia Mudavadi, had a vigilant team which caught MPs, MCAs and county officials bribing voters in order for them to favour Mr Were.
"We found ODM-branded face masks, money, filled tally forms and many other materials related to election malpractices, which we presented to the police,” he said, adding he also recorded a statement on the theft of his money.
Money stolen
The senator further claimed a police officer stole his money from his vehicle during the arrest of a group of youths at one of the polling stations.
"I had over Sh2.5 million in a bag in my car. I saw a police officer snatch the bag from my car and take it to his vehicle. When I followed him, I found him transferring the cash into his bag and raised an alarm," he said.
Mr Malala said he also reported the matter to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa).
Seven youth allied to ANC, including Senator Malala's bodyguard, who is accused of shooting and injuring a resident at Munami polling station, are in police custody.
