Former Member of Parliament for Laikipia North Mathew Lempurkel has been arrested.

Lempurkel was arrested on Wednesday from his home in Rongai, Kajiado County over the ongoing unrest in Laikipia that has seen 12 people killed and many others displaced.

After his arrest, the former legislator was moved to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road in Nairobi for questioning.

Police said Lempurkel is a person of interest therefore would not be allowed to speak to the press even though they did not disclose if they were accusing g him of anything related to the ongoing Laikipia clashes.

Lempurkel's supported started gathering outside the DCI offices along Kiambu Road after word went out that he was being held there.

Later on, security officers who had with them a sworn affidavit drove him to Milimani Law Courts. They intended to seek permission to hold the former MP for some days while conducting investigations.

Lempurkel is not new to controversy as he is also facing charges over past skirmishes in Laikipia.

His arrest comes after the unrest in Ol Moran escalated and bandits who had engaged security officers in a fierce exchange of fire torched a school.