This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
On Tuesday, August 20, 2019, Nandi Senator Samson Kiprotich Cherargei was arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officials at his home in Eldoret, following a summons issued by the police over his weekend remarks.
Cherargei, a staunch supporter of Deputy President William Ruto, was summoned on Monday after a video clip of him warning Dr Ruto's critics of unspecified action went viral on social media.
According to eyewitnesses, Cherargei was seen opening the gates of his Eldoret Elgon View home, shaking hands with the DCI officials before boarding a white police Land Cruiser pick-up. He was clad in a maroon jacket, T-Shirt, blue jeans trousers, casual shoes, and a baseball cap, while holding his mobile phone and a power bank.
Cherargei, who had earlier told The Standard that officers had surrounded his home and that he was contacting his lawyers, was driven to the Eldoret West Divisional CID office to record a statement. However, he was first driven towards Kapsabet, but on reaching Langas in the outskirts of Eldoret town, he was driven back to the Eldoret West divisional CID office.
Two lawyers, led by Ham Lagat, accompanied the senator in Eldoret. Lagat stated that the Senator was first to be driven to Kisumu, but the lawyers insisted that he records statements in Eldoret, where he was arrested. They also requested to have their client driven in their vehicle, but DCI officials declined.
By noon, the senator had finished recording the statement and was whisked away to Kisumu from where he was expected to be flown to Nairobi for further interrogation.
Cherargei was quoted as saying, 'I know this is a politically-instigated move but we are going to triumph over it,' before the DCI vehicle sped off.
