The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has come under czar criticism after an alleged witness in a case pitting digital blogger Dennis Itumbi turned suspect.
On July 3, Flying Squad officers arrested Itumbi over links to the Deputy President William Ruto “murder” letter.
The blogger was suspected to be behind a viral letter indicating that a meeting was being held at La Mada hotel to execute DP Ruto.
According to the blogger Samwel Gateri was among the witness who were lined up for the case.
However, on Monday the DCI tweeted: “We wish to clarify that contrary to insinuation by one Samwel GATERI that he’s a state witness in respect to criminal case against one @OleItumbi is false & misleading.The true facts are that he is a suspect under investigations. At no time was he envisaged to be a state witness.”
We wish to clarify that contrary to insinuation by one Samwel GATERI that he’s a state witness in respect to criminal case against one @OleItumbi is false & misleading.The true facts are that he is a suspect under investigations. At no time was he envisaged to be a state witness. pic.twitter.com/WoI0LZOYfx
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) September 2, 2019
The DCI further insisted that:”ALL statements by witnesses on the said case have been supplied to defense and Samwel Gateri Wanjiru is NOT among them.”
The tweet sparked uproar among the social media users with a majority of them sharing pictures of documents indicating that Samwel Gateri was a witness.
Itumbi also dismissed the clarification and termed it as false and said: “I will pray for you so that you stop lying.”
He went ahead to share a court order indicating that Gateri was not a suspect but rather a witness.
Ngaiii! Nitawaombea, muokoke, Muachane na uwongo, Sunduu! pic.twitter.com/JC9DoSUgTr
— Dennis Itumbi, HSC (@OleItumbi) September 2, 2019
On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen reacted to the DCI’s clarification by sharing a document and said: “The evidence against your assertions is overwhelming. What do you have to say?”
The evidence against your assertions is overwhelming. What do you have to say ? https://t.co/sl4NXMFBaM pic.twitter.com/ntM8QoYhyE
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) September 2, 2019
Here is what other Kenyans had to say:
We are still waiting for your clarification on the Samwel Gateri issue. @OleItumbi https://t.co/lf55TeMu72
— kiarie 🇰🇪 (@Paul_kiarie_) September 2, 2019
Can someone confirm the legitimacy of this charge sheet please @OleItumbi @DCI_Kenya ..something ain't adding up pic.twitter.com/bY3otQ9AEn
— Global Voice ✌ (@larrykipz) September 2, 2019
I feelnlike this guy failed to testify as witness for state since ukiona kitu iko kwa news imechimbwa https://t.co/g6JvfMCRgw after dci so ths man is going to mess up they go against him and now blackmail him as suspect @samwelgateri maybe innocent bt @OleItumbi remains kriminoo
— Punguza mizigo bill 2019 (@PatrickHook8) September 2, 2019
I think it is totally unacceptable for the DCI to use Twitter to try and create mob wars against journalism when they prepared a charge sheet naming Samwel Gateri as a witness.
In fact, on August 13, the court ordered that the defence be supplied with his statement. https://t.co/IvnV8vxIdk— Oliver Mathenge (@OliverMathenge) September 2, 2019