Police hunting for Deputy Speaker after he was caught beating up a young man at Ruto's event
by Tony MukereThe speaker is said to have left the country last night
Police have launched a manhunt for Nyeri Deputy Speaker Samuel Kariuki after he was caught on tape mercilessly beating up a young man believed to belong to a rival political camp.
The dramatic incident happened on Sunday morning ahead of Deputy President William Ruto's attendance at a public event in Nyeri.
The event was marred with tension and violence as some of Ruto's supporters clashed with a rival group that was believed to be loyal to Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu.
Kariuki, a die hard supporter of the Deputy President, was among those conspicuously participating in the embarrassing physical confrontation.
In a video that has since gone viral, Kariuki is seen beating up a young man with a rungu .
The Nyeri Deputy Speaker was temporarily arrested in the Sunday melee before being released.
However, on Monday, Central Regional Commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga confirmed that a warrant of arrest had been issued against Kariuki who also serves as the MCA for Ruringu'u ward.
Nyagwanga added that all those involved in the Sunday violence at Giakanja Secondary School would be arrested and arraigned in court.
The development came even as area MP Ngunjiri Wambugu claimed that Kariuki had left the country on Sunday night to avoid the pending arrest.
"Apparently the Speaker of the Nyeri County Assembly organized a trip for the Deputy Speaker to leave the country last night, so that he doesn’t get arrested. I hope the EACC & the DCI to investigate how this decision to travel was reached, and who’s funds were used," Wambugu said.