Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara was on Thursday, July 16, picked up from her home by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Reports indicated the lawmaker was arrested after she failed to respond to DCI summons relating to accusations of incitement.
Kihara was initially held at Naivasha Police Station, where she recorded a statement, before being transferred to the DCI Headquarters along Kiambu Road in Nairobi.
Speaking during the arrest, the MP, a staunch ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, claimed she had not been formally informed about the specific nature of the accusations against her.
“There is nothing, they are just telling me that I might have information that may aid in investigations, but I really don’t know what they are talking about, and the [nature of] information they are seeking,” she said.
The arrest comes a few days after the DCI issued a summon for Kihara to appear before it on Monday, July 14.
The summon was addressed to the MP by George Kisaka, Assistant Inspector General of Police stationed at the DCI Headquarters.
Kihara was informed that the summons was informed by alleged “dissemination of inciteful or disruptive content”.
“I have reasons to believe that you, Hon. Jayne Njeri Wanjiku Kihara, MP Naivasha Constituency, is connected to the offence or have information that can assist me in my investigations,” the summon notice read in part.
Kihara was asked to show up Monday morning, failure to which she would be subjected to prosecution.
Reacting to the summons, Kihara claimed it was part of the state’s grand scheme against dissenters.
Laying blame on President William Ruto, the lawmaker claimed she was being pursued for her resolve to call out the supposed maladministration in the current regime.
She vowed not to be intimidated.
“The days of intimidating leaders using the criminal justice system are long gone. Summoning me to DCI headquarters tomorrow will not change Kenyans resolve because it’s not about Jayne Kihara but our country, Kenya.
“Mr. President, this is a tried and tested strategy, it has not worked before, it will not work with you either. These political persecutions will not stop us from calling out this oppressive regime,” she reacted.
Meanwhile, while on a tour of the United States of America DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has mellowed down on his attacks against the Ruto administration fuelling speculation that he might be moving towards a reconciliation plan.
Insiders revealed last week that President Dr William Samoei Ruto let slip to his confidantes that there are plans underway to reconcile Matiang’i, Kalonzo and Gachagua to a working agreement with UDA Party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Gachagua’s calls to the Gen Z to stop demonstrations have been received with mixed feelings with critics saying he was only seeking publicity and political mileage but has no control over the Kenyan youth protestors.
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