NAIROBI, Kenya – Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji was arrested Monday afternoon under unclear circumstances, his lawyer has confirmed, amid growing tensions following nationwide Saba Saba Day protests.
Advocate Ndegwa Njiru claimed that the legislator was taken into custody around 3:00 p.m. and booked at Kibii Police Station by 3:53 p.m., under Occurrence Book (OB) number 06/07/07/2025.
According to Njiru, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Kibii informed him that Mukunji was detained only briefly “for the exclusive purpose of holding him” before being transferred into the custody of Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers from Juja Police Station.
“The OCS said the MP is likely to be charged with incitement to violence, though no formal charges have been filed or communicated officially,” Njiru said.
The MP’s current whereabouts remain unknown, and his personal vehicle remains parked at Kibii Police Station as of Monday evening.
Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement clarifying the reasons for his arrest or confirming whether he has been moved to another facility.
Political Tensions and Crackdown
The arrest comes just hours after the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported that 10 people had died and dozens more injured in violent crackdowns during Saba Saba protests held across 17 counties.
While it is unclear whether Mukunji’s arrest is directly tied to the protests, his detention adds to a growing list of politicians, activists, and human rights defenders who have either been detained or summoned by police over alleged roles in mobilizing the demonstrations.
As of Monday evening, attempts by journalists and legal teams to trace the MP’s location had proved futile, with calls for his immediate release or formal arraignment gaining traction online.
