This archive report was first published on 4 July 2019.
On July 4, 2019, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launched an investigation into the Tanga Tanga movement, a group associated with Deputy President William Ruto.
The probe follows the discovery of a WhatsApp chat room with over 200 members, which was seized from a blogger identified as Samuel during an arrest.
According to an affidavit filed by detective Yvonne Anyango, the WhatsApp group was created on July 8, 2018, and the investigators are currently in the process of summoning all the members.
The investigation is linked to a fake letter circulating online, which allegedly plots the assassination of Deputy President Ruto.
Popular digital strategist Dennis Itumbi, based at the Deputy President's office, was arrested on Wednesday as part of the investigation.
Itumbi was detained for allegedly making a false document without authority, contrary to section 357 of the Penal Code.
However, Itumbi denies authoring the letter, and his associates have also dismissed the claims.
Days after the letter was circulated online, Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya, Sicily Kariuki, and Joe Mucheru, as well as other government officials, were summoned to the DCI headquarters to record statements.
They denied the claims, stating that they can only write statements once the key complainant, DP Ruto, files a formal complaint on the matter.
Police are now convinced that Itumbi authored the letter, a claim dismissed by leaders associated with Ruto, like Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen.
