The Jubilee government was formed in my house - Jimmy Wanjigi
Jimmy Wanjigi has accused the government of persecuting him and his family after a raid during which firearms were reportedly recovered and his property destroyed. The Star reports.
A raid was carried out in Malindi and another at the billionaire businessman's home in Muthaiga, Nairobi.
"They assaulted my wife [Irene Nzisa] as she tried to record the breakages in the house. GSU officers came into this home guarding us like we are criminals. It's very sad that a government can do that to its citizens," he told the press at the residence on Wednesday.
"If they can do that to some of us who live in estates, I cannot imagine how much common mwananchi is harassed in the country."
A number of NASA supporters have been killed and injured during demonstrations against IEBC ahead of the repeat election on October 26.
Police have teargassed the supporters, beat them up with batons and shot some including children.
Police have denied Amnesty's report that at least 33 people have been killed.
Wanjigi further accused President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration of intending to execute him, adding the attacks are because of his support for Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
"It's very sad that [these] people are attacking me today yet their government was formed here. Raila and Uhuru shook hands here in a show of peace," he said.
"My support for Baba (Raila) remains unwavering and unshaken because it is every Kenyan's right to support anyone they wish to without victimisation."
The truth regarding the claim of the formation of the government at the home has not been established.
The billionaire's father Maina Wanjigi thanked the NASA chief for standing with the family during the raids in Malindi and Muthaiga.
"We thank Raila for supporting with us when we were under siege by the government...it's a shame that the government would not heed to requests to stop the attacks and destruction," he said.
"I hope this is a lesson because this is a show that there are people who are willing to take politics too far."
Raila said he tried to stop the destruction, despite the issuance of a search warrant by the court, but was stopped by police.
The ODM leader said police barred Wanjigi's lawyer and Siaya Senator James Orengo from accessing the premises.
"I told the officers in charge to allow lawyer Orengo to access the premises...I talked to them but they refused to [let him in] and insisted they had orders from above."
The former prime minister said the officers tried barring him from leaving the home after he started questioning their intention and after they found licences for the firearms found at the home
"The officers, at some point, barred me from leaving saying it was a crime but after I remained adamant, saying police were breaking the law. Their operation commander said he was no longer allowed to talk to me. After a while they said I should leave as they wanted to conduct an operation but I refused to be part of a crime and refused to leave.
"This home was seriously vandalised and they were using candles because they had even cut off electricity."
The Opposition chief said the trend of breaking laws started after the Supreme Court nullified Uhuru's election on September 1.
"The President started this when he threatened the Judiciary and has continued for the past few weeks. We now are witnessing a rogue security apparatus being used at will by the government but they will not derail our efforts to make Kenya a better country," he noted.
"Jimmy Wanjigi is no stranger to Uhuru Kenyatta because we have been here and we know it was just a set up by the government. The weapons found in the house in Malindi were recovered in the sea in 2012 so we are just witnessing a personal vendetta."
Orengo condemned the raid saying the government was behind it.
"It is very sad that we have witnessed a show of a failed state. Police should also be ashamed of not obeying orders from the courts," he said.
NASA principal Moses Wetang'ula, who is Bungoma Senator and Ford Kenya leader, castigated the city police boss for failing to stop the attacks.
"The raid on Wanjigi's home was a show of crumbling of a state," he said. "The will of the people will always win...we call on Kenyans to stay strong...this chest-thumping should be a warning to Kenyans that freedom is coming."