A dramatic scene unfolded on Thursday morning at the rural home of Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Njeri Kihara in Maraigushu after auctioneers stormed the compound and carted away 127 sheep and an old model Toyota Prado, allegedly over an unsettled financial dispute.
According to witnesses, the team of auctioneers, accompanied by local police officers, arrived at the property at dawn and presented what they said were court documents authorizing the seizure. The officers spent several hours rounding up the livestock before loading them onto trucks, drawing the attention of stunned neighbors and farmhands.
The MP, who was in Nairobi attending parliamentary business, reportedly rushed back to Naivasha after receiving frantic calls about the invasion. Speaking to journalists at her home, a visibly shaken Kihara condemned the operation, terming it unlawful, politically instigated, and humiliating.
“I was in Nairobi when I got a call that people had invaded my home. They took everything — my livestock, my car — without any official communication. This is harassment,” said the second-term legislator.
Kihara, a vocal lawmaker known for her firm stance on land and agricultural reforms, alleged that political opponents were exploiting legal loopholes to intimidate her. She vowed to seek legal redress, saying her lawyers had already begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the seizure.
“This is clearly a politically motivated witch-hunt. I have instructed my legal team to pursue justice and hold those responsible to account,” she said.
However, sources close to the MP indicated that the raid could be linked to a long-standing commercial dispute involving unpaid loans and property securities. Details of the case remain murky, as neither the financial institution involved nor the auctioneers had issued an official statement by the time of publication.
In Maraigushu, residents expressed mixed reactions to the dramatic events. Some sympathized with the MP, criticizing the manner in which the operation was carried out, while others argued that no one — not even elected leaders — should be above the law when it comes to debt enforcement.
“It’s unfortunate, but the law should apply equally to everyone,” said one resident. “If there’s a genuine debt, it must be settled through proper channels.”
The incident has reignited debate over accountability among public officials and the transparency of debt recovery processes in Kenya. Legal experts have urged authorities to ensure that such operations are conducted within the confines of due process to prevent perceptions of bias or political persecution.
As investigations continue, MP Jayne Kihara has maintained her innocence, expressing confidence that the matter will be resolved through the courts.
“I have nothing to hide. The truth will come out,” she asserted.
The Thursday raid marks one of the most dramatic confrontations involving a sitting MP in recent months, casting fresh light on the intersection between politics, personal finances, and the law in Kenya’s public life.
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