Anti-state protests probe: City MP arrested in Nairobi hotel

The MP has denied the claims and termed the police moves political.

In Summary
  • Police have been probing the aftermath of the June 25, incident where protesters raided Parliament and other government offices.
  • The arrest and grilling of the MP came a day after three top aides to Gachagua were on Tuesday grilled over claims they financed chaos in the anti-government protests.
ARREST
ARREST

A city MP was on Wednesday arrested at a Nairobi hotel in a probe into the anti-government protests that happened several weeks ago.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said they were also looking for another city for grilling over similar claims.

The MP was at a restaurant along Koinange Street when police who had been looking for him approached, witnesses said.

They requested him to accompany them outside where they later forced him into a waiting Saloon car. He was driven to the DCI headquarters where he was being grilled until late evening. He was to be released.

The MP has denied the claims and termed the police moves political.

Police have been probing the aftermath of the June 25, incident where protesters raided Parliament and other government offices.

There are claims some of the protesters were mobilised and facilitated to destroy property in the protests.

The probe files of the issue will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions with various recommendations, officials said.

Police handling the matter said they are also talking to other leaders apart from those widely being mentioned.

“The probe is wider and we are talking to all mentioned. They are from all sides,” said a police officer aware of the probe.

The arrest and grilling of the MP came a day after three top aides to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were on Tuesday grilled over claims they financed chaos in the anti-government protests.

Police visited the offices of the officials in Karen, Nairobi for their statements in a session that took hours.

Also grilled are two MPs from Nairobi.

This comes even as detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are investigating the violent protests and looting of businesses in Nairobi and parts of Central Kenya.

Police said they expect to record statements from more politicians including a former governor over the chaos.

The individuals had been summoned to the DCI headquarters for grilling on separate dates.

Police claim the individuals organised goons who raided shops and other premises to loot as Gen Z staged protests in the city.

They have denied the claims. The aides include advisors to the politician.

Police handling the case said there was scanty evidence linking the individuals for now.

They want to get more information on the alleged role the individuals played in the chaos.

Teams handling the probe have been relying on intelligence, which they argued was not actionable for now.

For instance, there have been reports a politician paid the goons to raid premises and loot and blame the same on the protesters.

Another report suggests a politician paid goons to attack a government office and burn it.

Police are rushing against time to ensure there is evidence if any to charge the accused persons.

Dozens of people who participated in the protests, especially on June 25 have been charged with various charges.

The probe into the cases is ongoing.

The protests were initially peaceful before goons invaded and started to loot property.

The mainly Gen-Z-led demonstrations have taken the government by surprise, with President William Ruto declining to sign the bill.

Discontent over the already high cost of living spiralled into nationwide protests, sparked by proposed tax hikes in the annual finance bill, which was however rejected.

Protest organisers called for the police to be held accountable for the shooting incidents.

More than 60 people have been killed and 400 wounded in the chaos.

Police say the probe into the saga is ongoing. 

of the protests.

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