What really happened to Dennis Itumbi

Monday, 28^th March 2012 - At the beginning of the week, after Dennis Itumbi was released from police custody ,he gave a tip-off that, he would reveal his encounter with the law while on custody.

His twitter followers who follow him on the handle @Oleitumbi could not wait and have since been urging him to post it. Finally, today, he wrote his experience under the topic: THE TRUTH ALWAYS WINS – The Diary of the Four days Guest of the State (Part 1)

It is an interesting read demonstrating how flawed our authorities are. He starts out by giving an encounter of how his earlier days had been before the drama began to unfold.

Here are several snippets:

 “7:21pm: As I disconnected that call, traffic police at the Gatunduri area, in Embu flagged us down, they were so many that Miss Smith Commented “there must be an operation on matatu’s” she regrets that she does not have a seat belt, but as we stop she manages to get her seatbelt on – I can’t have mine on since I have to slant on the seat to avoid the pain on my back.

7.22: A plain clothes Policeman taps the window, which is rolled down, he checks licencing of the car, asks for the Driving Licence of the driver who hands it over, then he asks for our Identity Cards. I protest, “How do you ask for an ID in traffic? You have not even introduced yourself, you are in civilian dressing and its already at night?” The officer, who later turns out to be a driver retorts, “ tuko na wenzangu wale wa traffic” we insist call them. Then he says, “ kwa hiyo (sic) hamna ID?” we ignore him. Then I get my International Press Accreditation and hand it over.

On Flipping it open he shouts, “we have Him” “Ndiyo huyu mtu wetu (here is our man)”

THE DRAMA BEGINS

In a flash of seconds, about 14-20 men all wielding Guns surround the car, an equal number of Uniformed Traffic policemen also move to the car, we step out of the car and without any introduction they make several demands almost at the same time;

“Zima simu” (Switch off the phone)

“Leteni simu” (Bring your phones)

“Toa KILA Kitu kwa Mfuko” (Empty your pockets)

They then search us and at that point I protest…

Can we get explanations of what is happening, before anything else happens.

Can you people introduce yourselves?

If it’s me you want, leave my friends alone, deal with me.

The cops behaved as if they did not hear me and continued recording IMEI numbers of the phones. When they ask me to sign I decline saying I wanted to know am I under arrest?

To which the senior Chief Inspector of Police Kibenei responds…”No you are not”

I then ask what exactly they want and they say anything electronic, I ask them if they want my Laptop, which they affirm, I handover the Mac Book Pro, a still Canon D6 and a Video Camera.

There is an exchange:

COPS: Bona unakaa kwa offisi hadi saa sita usiku?

Response: mimi natafuta pesa wakati nina nguvu, ikiisha nitapumzika

Cop: Halafu unatoka asubuhi mapema, watu hata hawawezi tembea kunywa chai?

Response: Watu wako na pesa hufika town, Bank zikifunguliwa, sis ambao hatuna tunafika kabla kuhakikisha kabla wadosi hawajapeleka pesa bank, tumepata kidogo

Cop: Hauna hata Girlfriend ama mama?

Response: hio ni mambo yangu bana

Cop: Uko na ndugu ako na number ya inaisha na 153

Response: Hey wachaneni na ndugu zangu

Cop: Gitari sio?

Response: do anything but leave my family alone

Cop: Tumekutafuta sana

Response: Bona hamkuniambia? nI would have brought myself

Cop: hatukujua hivo …. And much more….

He adds on the hints they dropped him. They asked him several questions.  Denis recounts, “1.Ulijua aje Kuhusu Michuki? (How did you know about Michuki’s Death)

2. Si hata Karume wewe ndio uliandika amekufa na hakuwa amekufa?(Are you not

3. Bona unasumbua witness wa ICC? (Why are you disturbing ICC witnesses?)

4. Hio Computer tumechua ndio unahack nayo?(The computer we have is it the one you hack with?)

5. British Dossier mliandika na nani?(Who helped you write the British Dossier?)

6. Kwanini uliweka Ile Clip uliweka jana ya IEBC? (Why did you upload the IEBC Clip Yesterday?)”

Additionally, Itumbi recounts.  In the CID headquarters, they insist on searching my house, I Decline and insist on my lawyer. They attempt PR saying said I have a laptop and they would like to pick it. I tell them I can ask someone to drop it, they refuse and I stand my ground from now on conversations will be through my lawyer. After their consultation, they drive me to Muthaiga Police Station, OB number 66. I am on medication; I therefore demand that I be supplied with a mattress, beddings and medicine. Smith and Stamina are released at this point but without their phones. THE CID and police consult and agree to my requests as long as I bring the Mattress, a job I assign to Smith and Stamina….”

You can read the whole story by following the link http://www.dennisitumbi.com/

He claims that the second part of the encounter will be written tomorrow after he has visited the CID headquarters where he aims at requesting for his two Laptops, phone, Still camera and video camera – items he intends to use to appear before the Parliamentary Committee investigating the British dossier as he defends himself.

The Kenyan DAILY POST