An aide to Deputy President William Ruto has sensationally claimed that National Intelligence Service team warned President Uhuru Kenyatta about Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro's arrest.
The first term legislator, a confidant of Dr Ruto, was briefly arrested on Monday night before being released without being charged by the state.
Nyoro had been involved in a scuffle with Kieleweke team led by Maina Kamanda at Gitui Catholic Church in Kiharu. The MP had resisted arrest.
An aide to DP Ruto, who spoke in confidence, claims that NIS allegedly asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to personally intervene and have Nyoro released.
The arrest, NIS allegedly said, would have painted Uhuru in bad light, with information from the ground showing that Uhuru was significantly losing Mt Kenya grip due to Kieleweke team.
"NIS warned the president against the arrest of Nyoro. The MP has considerable followers on the ground. Kieleweke team is perceived to be leaning towards the president.
"The intelligence team advised for his release. It also warned that the current strategy by Kieleweke is affecting the popularity of the president in Mt Kenya. That's why Nyoro was released," said the aide, who at one point worked with NIS.
President Uhuru Kenyatta previously walked out when Nyoro was addressing a gathering in Murang'a. He has often scolded the team leaning towards DP Ruto.
Security forces released Nyoro without charging him, a move that left Mt Kenya leaders accusing powerful PS Karanja Kibicho of masterminding the purported harassment of Tanga Tanga brigade.
“Dr Kibicho is using these agencies to lodge political wars especially to those who do not conform to his political beliefs. We will not allow people who were appointed to offer apolitical service to use their positions to play politics.”
“We are going to make the National Police Service vote independent and detach it from the Office of the President to pre-empt its misuse by people like Dr Kibicho,” he said, warning the PS: “You can't get power through the barrel of the gun," Kimani Ichungwah warned.
But Dr Kibicho accused the team of blaming whenever they are in trouble with authorities over criminal related charges, adding that he's not interested in politics.
“When people are in trouble, let them handle their problems and leave Kibicho alone. They blame me because they want to convert criminal events into a political problem,” Mr Kibicho said.
An MP who spoke with the Nation in confidence, also claimed that had the state pressed charges on Nyoro, the move would have raised tension in Mt Kenya.
“It is true that if he (Nyoro) was to be charged there would be an escalation of concerns that the government is applying double standards as the regional politics heats up. The impartiality was critical at that point,” said an MP from the region who chose to remain anonymous