High Court Orders DCI to Stop Intimidating and Harassing Nairobi MPs

The High Court in Nairobi has issued orders restraining the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) from intimidating and harassing elected members of Parliament from Nairobi County.

“THAT in the meantime, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondent, their agents, and or servants from arresting, detaining, confining, pursuing, and or in any other way interfering with the petitioners’ liberty in connection with the allegations giving rise to this petition until 17th September 2024,” read the orders.

In an application filed by city lawyers Dunstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui before High Court Judge Chacha Mwita, on behalf of James Gakuya, MP for Embakasi North, and Benjamin Mwangi, MP for Embakasi Central, it was argued that their clients’ liberties have been violated by DCI officers.

This development follows the MPs being summoned to appear before the investigation agency for interrogation over alleged sponsoring of the anti-government protests led by the youths dubbed Gen Z.

“Our clients were summoned by the DCI and were questioned for several hours over alleged sponsoring of the youths against the government in the city. This is wrong given that those youths were exercising their rights under the constitution to question the government’s accountability,” said Omari.

Omari argued that his clients, who are senior politicians, are being intimidated by security agents because of their relationship with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is perceived to be at odds with President Dr. William Ruto.

“This is purely a political witchhunt, just because they are friends with the Deputy President? I think we are going back to the dark days where such institutions were being used to intimidate others. Gachagua is actually where President William Ruto was then as the Deputy President,” said Omari.