First Lady storms Nation Centre

By NATION Team

First Lady Lucy Kibaki stormed the Nation Centre last night to protest against the media highlighting a story of how she interrupted a party at the home of outgoing World Bank country director Makhtar Diop.

She also demanded the arrest of the reporter and editor who filed the story of her visit to Muthaiga Police station on Monday morning and reportedly recorded a statement.

Mrs Kibaki confiscated notebooks, pens, cameras and tape recorders from journalists who were following her protests.

Her security detail kept watch for any eventuality.

"I am not leaving this place until I get the person who said I was at Muthaiga Police station... I also want my lawyer," she told her security at 12.45 pm.

"I am here demanding the truth and exercising my rights," she told Nairobi Provincial Police Officer Kingori Mwangi, who was trying to persuade her to leave the Nation Centre.

Mrs Kibaki at one point slapped Kenya Television Network cameraman Clifford Derick, who was recording her.

She communicated with State House on her cell phone, asking them to send a lawyer.

"We cannot entertain lies, it is illegal and it is a crime," she said on the cell phone.

She arrived at Nation Centre at 11.20 pm with six bodyguards in three official vehicles and walked straight to the Third Floor, which houses the editorial department. She was dressed in a pink top and blue jeans.

She ordered her bodyguards to confiscate cell phones from late night reporter Richard Chessos and driver Tom Mboya but later returned them.

She ordered her security to ensure that nobody leaves the newsroom, especially the late night reporters.

When internet editor Churchill Otieno arrived in the newsroom, she walked straight for him and asked: "Are you the editor? I am here to know why you are writing lies about me. I want to know who at Muthaiga police station gave you the story. After you tell me I will go straight to the studio and record my statement."

When Mr Mwangi arrived, he showed her a statement issued by the police spokesman denying the story of her visit to Muthaiga Police Station.  But the First Lady dismissed the statement as inadequate and continued to insist that the reporter be arrested.

When Political Editor Emman Omari arrived and greeted her: "How are you mama?" she replied: "I am not alright, are you the editor who was being waited for? I want to know why you are writing stories about me."

At one point, Mrs Kibaki declared: "I speak for the voiceless!" And speaking about newspapers, she said: "I don't buy newspapers, I read after others have read."

At one point she expressed her regrets: "This a very backward job, now you have a very juicy news," then she broke into laughter.

"You are writing and showing lies about me. Why dont you show Kenyans the other side?" she asked.

At 1.10 am, she went straight to Photographic Editor Antony Kaminju and asked: "What are you doing? Are you recording all what I am doing here?"

When she was informed that he was only trying to access the internet, she said: "I know what the internet is, you fool!" then she walked away.

She also said she never buys Nation newspapers because they are full of lies. 

"They even reported that I went to the police station wearing shorts. What is wrong with the First Lady wearing shorts. You will become a laughing stock of the world," the First Lady added.

And facing photographers present she said: "Yes I was wearing shorts. Why don't you now take pictures and air them on your TV if you think the First Lady wearing shorts or trousers is news. I also wear skirts, and bikinis when I am swimming!" 

Then the First Lady declared at 1.20 am that she was going on a hunger strike at Nation Centre.

Throughout her siege at the Nation Centre, contigents of policemen kept streaming in.

At one point, the First Lady walked to the switchboard and demanded to know what News Editor Njeri Rugene was writing: "You are the editor and you are the one who has been editing lies about me, I have marked you and I am going to talk to my lawyer. You will have to got to the police station even if it is 7 O'clock in the morning."

At 1.30 am, she grabbed a piece of paper from Managing Editor Bernard Nderitu and demanded to know: "What have you written here!" To calm her down, the editor responded: "Nothing madam."

Five minutes later, she ordered her security to go and fetch for her food from the State House. She later called and ordered breakfast.

At about 2 am, Mrs Kibaki told the PPO: " You just go home. you are not used to staying up late."

But when the police boss insisted on staying, the First Lady responded: " I was just testing you."

Earlier, the First Lady had said that people had been trying to stop her from storming Nation Centre, "But today it was a holiday so they were not there. I have been wanting to come here for a long time."

At one point, Mrs Kibaki said she was protecting the President because "he can't come here to protest. I am not afraid."

After taking a tour around the Third Floor newsroom, the First Lady said: " if the President does not shout, I am here to protect Kenyans, you always write lies about him and just because he doesn't complain. I am here for him and for other Kenyans."

At 2.45 am, Mrs Kibaki said she was thirsty and asked for water. Her security officers went to her vehicle parked outside Nation Centre and came back with two bottles of mineral water. She, however, declined to take the water, saying she would vomit if she did so.

She reiterated that she would only leave the newsroom if accompanied by her lawyer or doctor. She was still sitting at the chief sub-editor's desk when we went to press at 3.30 am.

Mrs Kibaki left the Nation Centre at 4.30 a.m. She promised to go to the KTN and Standard Offices early in the morning. By 8.30 a.m, she had not yet visited the Standard offices