The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Thursday evening claimed that one of their staunch party members and a member of the National Assembly was arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)
In a statement on Thursday, December 26, ODM claimed that Turkana South MP John Ariko, who doubles up as the party’s vice chairman, was apprehended by officers in Eldoret.
“DCI officers in Eldoret have this evening arrested Turkana South MP Mr. John Ariko, our National Vice Chairman without any explanation,” ODM said in a statement.
According to ODM, Ariko was subsequently taken to Central Police Station in Eldoret Town while the reason for the alleged arrest was yet to be made public.
Turkana South MP John Ariko at a past function. PHOTO/ John Ariko
In the same statement, ODM fired a message to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, demanding to know why their vice chair was arrested.
Ariko was one of several other big names who were proposed to take on new roles at the party in August, as ODM sought to make wholesome changes following several vacancies within the party’s hierarchy that followed President William Ruto’s Cabinet shake-up.
Known for his loyalty to former ODM party leader Raila Odinga, Ariko has often avoided controversy in the political scene, although he often voices his passion for the people of Turkana through his official social media pages.
One of his latest public engagements was when he made an appearance at Lokichar Baraza Park Turkana South Constituency for the Jamhuri Day celebrations.
Dig deeper: Notably, ODM’s latest demand piled more pressure on the National Police and Kanja, who has come under a nationwide spotlight over a recent spate of alleged abductions.
Amid online outrage over the mysterious disappearances of several social media personalities, Kanja was forced to issue a statement on Wednesday clarifying that police had nothing to do with the abductions.
“For clarity, the Constitutional mandate of the National Police Service is not to abduct, but arrest criminal offenders,” the IG said.
Kanja further clarified that arrests by police are typically recorded in the Occurrence Book for subsequent arraignment in a court of law. If this does not happen, the suspects are expected to be released from Police custody.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja during the Afripol Extra-Ordinary General Assembly Meeting on November 28, 2024.
NPS