Political Firestorm Unleashes as Pokot South MP Faces Investigation Over Facebook Post

In a dramatic turn of events, Pokot South Member of Parliament, David Pkosing, found himself in the hot seat after being summoned by the county Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO) over alleged inciteful remarks posted on his Facebook page.

The unfolding saga has ignited a fierce legal and political battle, with Pkosing maintaining his innocence and labelling the summons as purely political.

After enduring six hours of questioning, Pkosing's lawyer, Kimani Jackson, staunchly defended his client, asserting that Pkosing's Facebook post was not meant to incite but rather to express his concerns as a representative of the people. 

Jackson emphasized that the MP, a recognized champion of peace, directed his post towards Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and not as a call to incitement.

Pkosing's intention, as explained by his lawyer, was to draw attention to the pressing issues affecting the people along the border of West Pokot and Turkana County.

Specifically, he highlighted the recent massacre of cows, making it the focal point of his Facebook message.

Pkosing aimed to bridge peace between the two communities while urging the government to intensify its ongoing investigation into the matter.

The MP further alleged disturbing actions by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), accusing them of killing people and bombing over 100 cows. Jackson revealed that spent cartridges, believed to be from KDF officers, were recovered and submitted as evidence to Kapenguria police station for analysis.

Pkosing expressed shock at the summons, deeming them political and asserting that he had anticipated a response from the police regarding his Facebook posts. He criticized certain cabinet secretaries, accusing them of incompetence and orchestrating the CCIO's summons against innocent leaders.

"The animals have bullet wounds I want tell the government I won't be intimidated when I raise issues concerning my people," he said

In a bold move, Pkosing accused CS Aden Duale of orchestrating his arrest, suspecting him of involvement in the alleged theft of animals. 

"Am suspecting Duale he requested for my arrest, he should return the animals to the Pokot people, I demand to know where the bullets came from and where are the KDF officers we meet in Court," he said.

He demanded the return of the stolen animals to the Pokot people and sought answers about the origin of the bullets and the whereabouts of the KDF officers involved.

"I won't be intimidated when I raise issues concerning my people," declared Pkosing, vowing to stand firm in the face of adversity. His plea extended to the public, urging them to maintain peace and refrain from engaging in politics until 2027.

Support for Pkosing came from the leader of the majority in West Pokot County, Martin Komongiro, who lambasted the government for its silence on the killings and animal massacres. Komongiro argued that Pkosing had merely submitted crucial information to CS Duale for investigation and called for calm as the inquiry unfolded.

CCIO George Mutonya, addressing the media, shed light on the reason behind Pkosing's summons, citing concerns that the words posted on Facebook could potentially breed discontent between the Pokots and their neighbours. 

He stressed the ongoing nature of the investigations and urged leaders to refrain from making inflammatory remarks that could exacerbate tensions in the general public.

"According to us the words posted can bring discontent between pokots and neighbors. We asked him to come and explain to us what he meant. The investigations are ongoing and as of now," he said.

As the political storm rages on, the Pokot South MP's predicament underscores the complex interplay between social media activism, political responsibilities, and the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the prevention of violence incitement. 

The community remains on edge, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the investigations that will determine the fate of their embattled representative.

His supporters carried placards in solidarity with the MP as they demanded justice.

Hundreds of West Pokot county residents camped outside Kapenguria police station as they awaited the outcome of the grilling.