There was some laughter in the Senate on Tuesday morning when Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka sensationally claimed that Nandi Senator Samson Cherargey had cried after being arrested by the police.
Onionka was cooperating with the motion to consider the appointment of Douglas Kanja as the next Inspector General of Police.
According to the senator, the national police have let down Kenyans by making one-sided arrests and now it is Kanja’s turn to pay for it.
“Mr Speaker, as you can see now, a man called Jimi Wanjigi has been arrested and his house has been vandalised. These are issues I want to pursue in Parliament,” he said.
He continued: “I remember three years ago when Cherargei was arrested he was screaming, ‘Oh my God, what is going to happen, these people came at 3am’.”
Cherargey did not take this lightly and rose to the occasion, demanding that Onyonka apologise for his comments asserting that although he was indeed arrested naked, he had not cried.
“Mr Speaker, was my screaming and crying just to be included in the minutes of this House? I am a sexless Kalenjin who was circumcised at 3am,” he questioned.
“In fact, I was arrested naked but Mr Speaker, I have never cried about it. Mr Speaker, in the spirit of Koitalel Samoei and Tarai, can you apologise to me and the great people of Nandi,” he posed with a laugh.
When Speaker Amason Kingi challenged Onyonka to corroborate his statement, he claimed he “literally” saw him crying and begging God for forgiveness.
He vowed to release a video clip showing him crying.
King said the House is on recess and can take advantage of this when it returns on Sept. 17.
“We’re taking a break today and we’ll send you that video when we come back,” Onionka said.
The Kisii senator at the same time called on Kanja to act with the dignity he owes if his appointment is approved.
The motion was tabled by Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, who is also the Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations.
Senator Crystal Asigye, who seconded the motion, said: The proof will be in what Kanja does in his first 100 days.
“Mr Speaker, his first day in office will determine the intentions of this new inspector general and where he wants to take the state police,” she said.