The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has recommended serious charges against five people including Members of Parliament (MPs) for their alleged involvement in planning, mobilizing, and financing youth led anti-gov’t protests earlier in the year.
DCI in a September 26 letter to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seen by The Kenya Times said it received intelligence reports linking the five to meetings that took place at Hotel Boulevard in the Nairobi city centre.
Several MPs and political figures allied to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua are set to face charges as per the inquiry.
“The two members of parliament were summoned on 31st July 2024 and their statements were recorded. However, they declined to hand over their mobile phones for forensic examination,” read part of the letter.
The directorate has recommended the DPP to charge Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi “Mejjadonk” with soliciting/inciting others to commit an offense as outlined in Section 391 of the Penal Code.
He is also facing conspiracy charges to commit a felony as outlined in Section 393 of the Penal Code, and Money laundering in connection with the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Charges recommended against Gachagua allies
Further, the inquiry suggests Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, George Theuri, Martin Wambugu Ngunjiri, and Pius G. Munene are correspondingly implicated with Mejjadonk in the conspiracy to commit a felony charge.
Also Read: DCI Obtains Orders in Investigations on Gachagua-Allied MPs Over Protests
DCI said efforts are made to obtain all financial data from Safaricom, the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), and banks where the purported financial transactions were carried out.
DP Gachagua had earlier in September called out DCI for allegedly going after politicians allied with him.
Speaking while at a church service on Sunday, September 8, the second in command rebuked the directorate for arresting MPs Gakuya and Mejjadonk.
Gachagua calls out DCI
Further, Gachagua accused the DCI of being manipulated over political issues, noting that the practice was a huge failure for the previous government.
“I would like to ask our security officers from the DCI, please, don’t take us back to where we came from. The use of the criminal justice system to manage politics made the previous administration very unpopular,” said Gachagua.
“It doesn’t make sense to harass Gakuya and Mejjadonk for no reason because of politics. Arresting them, confiscating their phones, intimidating them. I want to ask our investigative agencies to be professional and to deal with crime in accordance with the law.”
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The duo had been arrested and questioned over their alleged sponsorship of the June and July anti-tax protests held across the country.
They were later released from the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road before moving to court to stop their arrest in relation to the matter.
However, the High Court of Kenya on Tuesday, August 6, granted orders to the DCI allowing the directorate to obtain data on the two lawmakers.
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