RUTO HANDSHAKES MATIANGI AS THEY PLAN TO VISIT KISII.

There are concerted efforts to reconcile former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i with President William Ruto, the Nation has established.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu held a meeting with the former CS, in what multiple sources say is the first move towards reconciling and uniting the Gusii community.

The meeting also brought together former and current lawmakers from Gusii, community elders and church leaders, all geared toward promoting reconciliation and the region’s unity.

The meeting comes ahead of Mr Machogu’s homecoming ceremony on March 24. President Ruto is expected at the event.

Political tension had been building in the two counties of Kisii and Nyamira that make up the Gusii region, largely because of the recent happenings that have pitted the Kenya Kwanza administration against Dr Matiang’i.

It all began with an alarm that was raised by Dr Matiang’i via his lawyer, Danstan Omari, and a contingent of politicians led by Azimio leader, Raila Odinga, that an elite squad of police officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) wanted to raid his Karen Home.

However, several government agencies vehemently denied any raid. The former CS was then summoned to the DCI headquarters, ostensibly to assist in investigations pertaining to the alleged raid by police in his Nairobi home.

But on February 15, police actually raided Dr Matiang’is Karen house, breaking into every room as they allegedly sought CCTV camera footage.

It later emerged that the former CS had left the country on February 19, 2023, four days before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced summons for him to appear for questioning.

In a press release through his advocate, Mr Omari, Dr Matiang’i said he was in the United Kingdom to attend an urgent private family matter and shall return to resume his ordinary routine as a private citizen.

Mr Omari also said there were no valid summons issued to the former CS.

EACC denied involvement in the night operation only to resurface three weeks later seeking certified information on Dr Matiang’i’s declared wealth.

In a letter dated February 27, 2013, EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak said the commission was conducting a lifestyle audit on Dr Matiang’i.

Two detectives, Mr Abdul Low and Mr Paul Mugwe were to collect the documents from Mr Koskei’s office at Harambee House.

Days later, the DCI summoned the former minister to their headquarters on Kiambu Road.

The ex-Interior CS returned to the country on March 4, 2023 , to find fresh summons by the DCI.

On March 7, 2023, the former CS honoured the summons by the DCI. He was accompanied by a battery of 12 lawyers including Mr Omari, Otiende Omollo and Okong’o Omogeni. He spent about eight hours in the DCI headquarters.

A charge sheet from the DCI showed that Matiang’i would be charged with publishing false information with intent to cause panic.

The other charges include conspiracy to commit a felony and Publication of False Information.

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