NAIROBI, Kenya- The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed investigators to obtain statements from people who were with politician Morara David Kebaso during a confrontation with a Nyamira County Assembly aspirant last month.
The directive widens the inquiry beyond the initial complaint by John Masita Omariba, who reported an alleged assault at Matutu Police Station on October 21.
Omariba, an MCA aspirant, told police that he was confronted at a petrol station in Kijauri, Borabu Constituency, while fuelling his vehicle.
He alleged that Kebaso, who was accompanied by several people, attacked him during the encounter.
Police have recovered CCTV footage from the Total petrol station along the Kaplong–Kisii Road and are treating it as part of the evidence in the inquiry.
DPP seeks accounts from those present
In a November 4 letter to the Keroka station prosecutor, the prosecution office instructed the investigating officer to record statements from Kebaso’s driver, security personnel, his maternal uncle and members of his campaign team who were allegedly present during the incident.
The letter, written by J.K. Chirchir on behalf of Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga, gives investigators 21 days to complete the exercise and return the investigation file to the ODPP for the next decision.
The directive does not amount to a decision to charge any person. It is intended to help investigators establish who was at the scene, what each person saw and whether their accounts match the CCTV footage and the complainant’s statement.
According to Omariba’s report, the disagreement was linked to claims that construction materials had been assembled at Kebaso’s father’s home in what he described as a political attempt to embarrass the politician. That account remains an allegation under investigation.
Court mention set for November 11
Kebaso and his uncle obtained anticipatory bail from the Nyamira High Court on October 27.
Justice T. Cherere granted them KSh100,000 cash bail on October 28 and directed that the matter be mentioned on November 11.
The anticipatory-bail order does not determine the facts of the complaint.
The police investigation and the ODPP’s review of the completed file will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for any further action.
Investigators are expected to trace and interview the people named in the prosecution directive, review the CCTV footage and submit the completed file to the ODPP within the set timeline.
The prosecution office will then assess the evidence and decide whether to recommend charges, seek further investigations or take another lawful course of action.
