This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
On September 2, 2019, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) made a surprising move in the ongoing case against blogger Dennis Itumbi, denouncing Samwel Gateri as a state witness.
Just hours before, Gateri had filed an application before the Milimani Law Courts to withdraw himself as a witness, citing threats to his life, including an attempted kidnapping.
However, the DCI responded by terming Gateri's claims as false and misleading, and further denied that Gateri is a state witness, stating that he is actually a suspect under investigations.
According to a police charge sheet received in court on July 22, 2019, Gateri's name is listed as the first state witness in the case, alongside Sergeant Ruto and Corporal Yvonne.
The DCI's claim came in a tweet, stating, '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.'
