Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka at Kisii DCI

Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka on Tuesday presented himself at the Kisii DCI offices in what he said was honouring summons by the police.

Mr Onyonka, who was accompanied by three lawyers and Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati, said the Kisii County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) Ms Beatrice Kabaillah had instructed him to report to their Nairobi offices.

"The information you have heard is that I need to go to CID headquarters in Nairobi. The truth is that I have not been given those instructions. My instructions were that I come here. It looks like the DCI team here does not know how to handle my case. So I will wait for further instructions to decide because you cannot just get into a car and drive to Nairobi," said Mr Onyonka while addressing the CCIO.

Ms Kabaillah confirmed that they had been instructed to direct Mr Onyonka to the Nairobi office.

Mr Onyonka, who later headed to the Kisii Central police boss’s office headed by Mr Peter Kimani, said he had work to do in Kisii and that is what he will henceforth concentrate on.

"The summons state that I have seven days to respond. But I have come here because I respect the law," Mr Onyonka told Mr Kimani.

Mr Arati said they are law-abiding leaders and peaceful people.

"He will go to Nairobi when required. He will present himself. I will emphasise what my brother Onyonka indicated that we do want to say sorry. After elections, all those people who were affected are the same people we are serving," said Mr Arati.

"If they are pursuing the case of Mithika Linturi, let them do it because he did it as an individual. But if my brother is found culpable of anything, we will carry our cross."

Mr Arati, who is eying the Kisii Governorship and has been campaigning alongside Mr Onyonka who is vying for the Kisii senatorial seat, said this will help ensure there is no animosity and that leaders have a responsibility to tell and reprimand their followers when they go wrong.

Not sure who the complainant is

The two lawmakers declined to address the media but Mr Onyonka’s lawyers said that he had not committed any crime.

"We came here because of the summons by the DPP through the letter that was sent out. Onyonka obliged and obeyed the summons. There is no charge that has been levelled against him and that they shall give us further instructions," said Mr Ombui Ratemo, one of Mr Onyonka's lawyers.

Another lawyer Mr Wilkins Ochoki said they had made a short statement relating to the summons.

"We are not sure who the complainant is. The constitution has freedom of association and speech and this is a political season. Mr Onyonka is a politician and we urge the DPP and police not to be excited over what politicians say to their supporters. There is no hate speech and there is nothing for police to investigate over a rebuttal to what was clearly a provocation of other communities within the Republic of Kenya," said Mr Ochoki who is also the Law Society of Kenya chairman South West Kenya branch.

He said their client had not broken any law but he will present himself once required to.

"He is not a flight risk and he will fully cooperate with the investigators," said Mr Ochoki.

The team then left for South Mugirango where they are scheduled to continue with their campaigns.

[email protected]