You've Pushed Us to the Wall, Matiang'i Tells Raila

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has told National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga that the government will not reinstate his security detail and that of his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka.

The CS said that withdrawn police officers were redeployed and dared the Opposition leaders to make true a threat by one of them to stage mass protests if the government does not return the officers.

“I heard one politician say that we either return the police officers or they call for mass action. They can proceed and call for mass action because that position is not going to change,” he said.

“We are not going to run the security of this country on the basis of threats.”

Speaking to the press in Kajiado town, Matiang'i accused the Opposition leaders of misusing security officers assigned to them by involving them in street protests and harassment of State officers constitutionally in office.

“Why should we give you 20 police officers to loiter from press conference to press conference, from hotel to hotel, when they are needed elsewhere?” he asked.

He added: “Why should you carry around a whole platoon of police officers to go and commit a crime; to evict constitutional office holders?” the minister said in reference to threats by Nasa to lead supporters in storming electoral commission offices and eject staff they claim bungled the presidential election.

He further said Nasa leaders had crossed the “red line” and that the government would not delay to action anyone breaking the law irrespective of their status.

“None is above the law. I don’t like issuing ultimatum, I act. Test our resolve; go ahead and do it, we will come for you,” said Matiang’i.

He was speaking to the press after a security meeting with senior police bosses, among them Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet and Rift Valley Regional Co-ordinator Wanyama Musiambo.