Wetang’ula car hit billboard: Police

Forensic experts at Kilimani Police Station inspect the car belonging to Bungoma Senator-elect Moses Wetangula that was reportedly shot at along Ngong Road. On Friday confusion followed reports of the Thursday night gun attack with Cord and the police giving conflicting versions of the incident. Mr Wetang’ula, who was unhurt, said the attack was political and accused the Jubilee Government of trying to kill him. PHOTO/ANTHONY OMUYA.  NATION

In Summary

• Senator sticks to gunshot account, claims he has received text messages warning him to be silent over the controversial railway project tender
• Bungoma leader accuses investigators of distorting facts

By FRED MUKINDA

By PHILIP BWAYO

Confusion deepened on Saturday after police discounted reports that gunmen shot at Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula on Thursday night.

Mr Wetang’ula reported to Kilimani Police Station on Thursday that a gunman fired at his car as he was being driven on Mbagathi Way in Nairobi.

On Saturday, police spokesperson Gatiria Mboroki said the car hit part of a billboard on the roadside, causing a huge bang which may have been mistaken for a gunshot.

“The observations indicate the vehicle might have probably hit the piping of the banner. It was scratched by the wire connecting the lower part of the structure holding the banner. The dent on the top of the windscreen could have been caused by the impact on the edge of the metal pipe, which also has a dent. The huge bang was probably the result of the collusion with the banner structure,” she said.

But blood stains found by investigators near the scene of the incident added to the mystery of the Thursday night incident. A preliminary brief prepared by Nairobi’s head of criminal investigations Nicholas Kamwende, but which was not mentioned by the police spokesperson on Saturday, indicated samples of the blood had been collected for forensic tests.

Speaking in Kitale, the Senator accused police of distorting evidence and claimed that a senior police officer called his driver instructing him to say the vehicle had hit a billboard. (READ Police want to hide the truth: Wetangula)

The preliminary report by Mr Kamwende said the driver had recorded another statement discounting the gun attack.

“The driver has recorded a further statement where he concurs with the observations. The government chemist, the ballistics expert and crime scene officers will be expected to provide confirmatory results to this incident in the coming days,” reads part of the report to Inspector-General David  Kimaiyo.

In Kitale, Mr Wetang’ula said: “I want Mr Kimaiyo to say what he knows about the attack because a senior police officer called my driver ordering him to record a statement saying he indeed hit a billboard. This is very ironical because I immediately called Kimaiyo after he claimed that my vehicle had hit a billboard and he told me they are not yet through with investigations. So how did they arrive at that conclusion?”

He added that police had made quick conclusions before completing investigations.

SAD AND SHAMEFUL

Jubilee parliamentarians led by Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale and his Senate counterpart, Prof Kithure Kindiki said it was “sad and shameful” for Mr Wetang’ula to allege an attempt had been made on his life when he was involved in a minor accident.

They asked the Inspector- General to ensure speedy investigations and charge Mr Wetang’ula with giving the police false information if it is indeed found that his vehicle was not shot at. 

Police said they did not find cartridges “and any other evidential material” when they visited the scene.

The incident, according to the Senator, happened minutes to 11 pm near the City Mortuary roundabout as they drove towards Ngong Road.

The Toyota Prado had scratches on the windscreen on the driver’s side and a dent on the roof.

The police report also noted: “Black pieces of the car rail cover were recovered on the mortuary side.”

The report added: “There was a framework for hanging banners. There was a piece of half an inch metal hanging on the pole towards City Mortuary with aluminium wire inside. There was a piece of the same wire on the ground on the opposite pole.

“The vehicle probably hit the piping of the banner. The vehicle was scratched by the wires connecting the lower part of the structure. The dent on the body on top of windscreen could have been caused by the edge of the metal pipe, which also had a dent. The huge bang was probably the result of the collision with the banner structure.”

But Mr Wetang’ula accused the police of not taking the matter seriously: “The police must come out clean on this. We were with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kilimani Police Station for more than three hours on that (Thursday) night and no senior police officer was concerned with our case.”

He added: “I have been receiving SMSs from anonymous people who have instructed me to remain silent on the scandalous railway project but I will go ahead and spill the beans.”