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Drama as Waiguru’s ally arrested at gunpoint for kidnapping woman


An ally of former Devolution Secretary Anne Waiguru was arressted at gunpoint on Saturday for allegedly kidnapping a woman who was in his campaign team.

The Mwea parliamentary aspirant Peter Ndambiri was arrested in the evening and whisked off to Kerugoya police station where he spent the night.

Mr Ndambiri, a former banker and a known tycoon in the area, is a close associate to Ms Waiguru in her bid to seek the Kirinyaga county gubernatorial seat in the 2017 general elections.

He was heading to a campaign meeting he had convened at around 5.30pm when his vehicle was blocked by a police car and armed officers proceeded to arrest him.

During the arrest, five police officers pointed guns at the politician as his supporters protested. Police apprehended the politician and escorted him to the police station where he was held overnight.

DISAPPEARANCE OF MONEY

The politician is accused of kidnapping Jane Njeri Mworia on December 7, 2016 over alleged disappearance of Sh22,000 meant to fund a youth seminar in the constituency. Mr Ndambiri is said to have given the money to the woman for the seminar, but she instead took off with it.

Ms Mworia was allegedly kidnapped in Ngurubani town and WAS driven off to an unidentified location in Murang’a county where she was held hostage and tortured for five days before being released.

Upon release, Ms Mworia reported the matter to the police and investigations led to Saturday’s arrest of the politician.

Following the arrest, Mr Ndambiri’s supporters stormed the station to demand for his immediate release but were dispersed by police officers.

Mr Ndambiri denied kidnapping the woman and claimed the arrest was politically motivated.

“A senior politician who is fearing defeat in the 2017 polls has colluded with the woman who was my supporter to frame me up. The politician is assassinating my character so that I do not achieve my political goals,” said Mr Ndambiri.

“They (police) came with guns as if I was a robber and took me away. It was was extremely intimidating,” said the politician.

He vowed that no amount of intimidation would deter him from seeking the Mwea parliamentary seat and campaigning  for Ms Waiguru.

‘WILL NOT BE COWED’

“I will continue conducting my campaigns and supporting Ms Waiguru whether my political enemies like it or not. I will not be cowed,” added Mr Ndambiri.

Mr Ndambiri confirmed to journalists that he gave the woman the money.

“I gave the money to the woman for the seminar but she escaped with it and resurfaced after five days and cheated the police that she had been kidnapped,” he explained.

“The woman is faking kidnap after being compromised by the senior politician. My political enemies want to have me jailed.”

But Ms Mworia insisted that she was kidnapped and subjected to torture.

“I was abducted and confined in a secluded place in Murang’a. When I was finally set free I reported what had happened to me to the police and I mentioned the politician and other people who were involved,” said Ms Mworia.

County police commander, Mr Joseph Nthenge said the politician was undergoing interrogation and could face kidnapping charges after detectives finish investigations.