NAIROBI, Kenya – The family of prominent businessman Jimi Wanjigi found themselves at the center of a tense standoff with armed police on Thursday afternoon.
After a brief chase involving his car, the officers surrounded Wanjigi’s Muthaiga home in Nairobi, escalating a situation that has quickly drawn national attention.
According to the police, Wanjigi was allegedly seen distributing money to individuals purportedly to sponsor ongoing protests.
Authorities also claimed that he facilitated the transportation of protesters to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), an accusation that the businessman cum politician has denied.
Wanjigi, a vocal critic of President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza-led government, dismissed the allegations as baseless and insisted that he would not be intimidated by what he described as a clear act of harassment.
As tensions flared, more police units were dispatched to his Muthaiga home, further unsettling the Wanjigi family.
Wanjigi’s son, Maina Wanjigi, recounted his encounter with the officers, saying they assaulted him during the raid.
“I was trying to record them, and they accused me of attempting to grab their gun. They pushed me to the ground, beat me up, and put me in handcuffs,” he said.
His sister, Wambui Wanjigi, also shared her traumatic experience, describing how the police forcefully kicked down the door, subjected them to physical abuse, and hurled insults.
“They hit us and abused us. It was a terrifying experience,” she told journalists.
This is not the first time police have raided Wanjigi’s home. During former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, police raided the palatial home and claimed to have recovered arms.
Wanjigi’s lawyer, Odero Osiemo, condemned the actions of the police, characterizing the raid as politically motivated.
“Given the political history, it’s evident that this is just another instance of political harassment that every Kenyan, including Wanjigi, faces. He has endured this before, and we are prepared for any eventuality. This is purely politics,” the lawyer said.
The Government has been flip-flopping on who sponsored the GenZ protests that have lasted for more than two months. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, his allies, and the charity American organisation, Ford Foundation are among those blamed for the protests.
The protests are largely because of bad governance, rampant corruption, and tribalism in government, as well as punitive taxes.
