Supporters of former Mungiki sect leader Maina Njenga on Thursday engaged police in running battles around the DCI Headquarters along Kiambu Road in Nairobi while protesting Njenga’s arrest.
This happened after Maina accompanied by Jeremiah Kioni, Wajackoyah and Eugene Wamalwa went to the DCI headquarters where he had been summoned for questioning.
His supporters heard about the development and went to stand in solidarity with the leader.
However, things took a drastic turn when reports went out that DCI operatives secretly whisked away Maina to an undisclosed location.
It forced the police to lob tear gas and deploy water cannons to disperse Maina’s supporters from the DCI HQ.
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Several leaders including Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition deputy leader Martha Karua condemned the act terming it as thuggery and a violation of Maina’s right to legal presentation.
Karua took to her social media account to condemn the move and draw the attention of civil societies to the matter.
“Thuggery Alert! @DCI_Kenya officers this afternoon demonstrated thuggery instead of professionalism by using trickery to separate Maina Njenga from his lawyers who included several Azimio principals and sneaking him out of DCI_Kenya offices kiambu Road to un undisclosed destination,” Karua wrote.
“DCI is violating Maina Njenga’s right to legal representation and we fear they will prejudice his rights to a fair trial. In these circumstances is his safety assured.”
Maina’s lawyer Ndegwa Njiru also took to the same media platform to make similar claims.
“My client Maina Njenga whisked to unknown destination by the DCI officers.....kenyas pray for his life,” Ndegwa said.
Former Defense CS Eugene Wamalwa also echoed Karua’s sentiments accusing the Kenya Kwanza administration of turning the police into a weapon to settle political scores.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the weaponization of the Criminal Justice system and the misuse of the Police by the KK regime to settle political scores and intimidate Azimio leaders like Gaucho and Maina Njenga who were arrested & supporters tear-gassed today,” Wamalwa said.
Reports on social media also indicate that Maina’s arrest has sparked unrest in various parts of the Mount Kenya region.
Rigathi Gachagua should know that toying with Mungiki leader Maina Njenga is a wrong move. Protests have started in Mt Kenya Nyahururu, and transport paralyzed following his arrests.
— The Government Critic 🇰🇪 (@magwaz3) May 25, 2023
Uhuru and Raila Odinga can bring this govt down if they attempt to kill azimio
Itumbi pic.twitter.com/tv4wfyO8ev
Uhuru and Raila Odinga can bring this govt down if they attempt to kill azimio
— The Government Critic 🇰🇪 (@magwaz3) May 25, 2023
Itumbi pic.twitter.com/tv4wfyO8ev
By the time of this publication, Maina’s lawyer announced his client was finally free.
“We got him back...we have redeemed his LIBERTY....This is just but the beginning,” Ndegwa said. We got him back...we have redeemed his LIBERTY....This is just but the beginning. https://t.co/19XbLfQi2u
— Ndegwa Njiru Adv. (@NjiruAdv) May 25, 2023