Activist Michael Makarena now wants IEBC to bar Meru Senator Mithika Linturi from vying in the upcoming elections over rape allegations and qualifications.
Through lawyer Danstan Omari, the petitioner says that a perpetrator of aggression against women should not be allowed to contest for the gubernatorial seat in Meru County.
Omari said they have attached an affidavit by the Director of Criminal Investigations in the sexual offences case showing graphically what transpired on the night of 30th January 2021.
“The video shows Senator Linturi moving from his room in the famous Maiyan Hotel at midnight, sneaking into the room of a lady while not fully dressed,” said Omari.
Linturi is also allegedly caught on video after being caught in the room, negotiating for a settlement and giving a cheque of Sh 200,000.
“Is this the person fit to stand for that position? We have petitioned the IEBC to bar Mithika from vying,” Omari added.
Omari also noted they have also raised issues of Linturi’s academic certificates and his conduct and behaviour.
According to him, there has been an upsurge of attacks on women.
“From Meru still, we saw the wife of former prime minister raila Odinga being booed in a church where Linturi presided, bringing thugs into the church and booing Idea Odinga,” Omari said.
Omari added that this is an attack, a consistent pattern of Mithika Linturi against women.
“We have also seen another attack from the US directed to Mama Ngina Kenyatta by somebody similar to Linturi who subscribes to the same political formation,” Omari added.
Further, he mentioned an attack on forest road where a female diplomat was sexually molested.
“Surprisingly the DPP made the same decision not to charge the 16 people, which is consistent with the same hate speech where Linturi was supposed to be arraigned in Nakuru but the DPP said there was no sufficient evidence,” Omari added.
Omari claimed that his client is showing a pattern of a man above the law.
“A man the DPP will protect yet he is attacking the most vulnerable group in this country called the women,” he added.
The matter will be heard on 4th April.
Senator Linturi was charged in September 2021 with attempting to rape the 36 year old woman at the said hotel.
According to the charge sheet, on 30th January 2021, at 3 am at Maiyan villas hotel in Nanyuki, Laikipia East sub-county intentionally attempted to rape a 36-year-old woman.
The Senator is further accused of committing an indecent act by intentionally touching the woman’s breast and private parts without her consent.
He denied the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh 200,000.
Linturi was charged after the High Court declined to stop his prosecution.