Kenya: Salat Admits Seizing Kanu Membership Cards

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Mosoku Geoffrey

30 June 2011

Kanu secretary general Nick Salat yesterday admitted confiscating the party’s membership cards allegedly stolen during a break-in at the offices on Friday. Salat had been summoned by police in Nairobi the same day following the burglary.

Yesterday, he said he had “confiscated” the cards because a rival faction of the party wanted to hold irregular elections. The party’s faction allied to Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta had reported the incident at Kilimani police station claiming he was behind the burglary.

They alleged that Salat hired more than 20 youths to break into Kanu offices in Kilimani and take away 2,000 membership cards. Yesterday, Salat said he told the police that the cards were confiscated and are in the party lawyers’ custody. “I was shocked when the police summoned me to question me over an alleged break-in and impounding of membership cards,” he said.

The former Bomet MP said the cards are part of his evidence against an alleged theft of Sh5.6 million which he had reported to the CID. The faction allied to Uhuru and another one led by vice chairman Gideon Moi have been engaged in a war of words over the control of the party.

Salat asked why police summoned him yet they had failed to react to his reports of an alleged fraudulent withdrawal of the party’s cash. “I made a report at parliament CID over the withdrawal of Sh5.6 million. I have also reported twice at Kilimani over illegal occupation of Kanu office by goons. Yet, the main suspect Justin Muturi has not been summoned,” Salat said.

Muturi accused Salat of illegally accessing the party headquarters using thugs who went away with the newly printed cards. The former Siakago MP who is also the CMD chairman said the development was likely to delay the planned party recruitment and elections.

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