Naivasha Member of Parliament (MP) Jayne Kihara has been arrested. The lawmaker’s lawyers, Waithaka Mwangi and Wachira Waiganjo, said that dozens of heavily armed officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, July 17, stormed the MP’s home in Maraigushu on the outskirts of Naivasha, Nakuru County, before they arrested her.
This comes days after Kihara earlier in the week failed to honour summons issued by the DCI over alleged link to the chaos witnessed in Naivasha town during recent demonstrations.
Following the arrest, Kihara was subsequently booked at the Naivasha Police Station before being driven away to DCI headquarters in Nairobi.
Speaking after her arrest, the lawmaker said she had not been informed of the reasons for her arrest, claiming it was politically motivated.
Jayne Kihara speaks after her arrest
According to her, none of the officers who arrested her disclosed why she was being detained but told her she was being taken to DCI headquarters to record a statement.
She further criticized the government, describing her arrest as a witch hunt, and claimed she was being targeted because of her political stance.
“Hii ndiyo serikali nilipigania, inanishika sasa. Imesemekana summons ilitoka Nairobi, Director ananingoja Nairobi,” she said.
This losely translates to, “This is the government that I fought for which is arresting me. It is being said the summons are from Nairobi, the Director is waiting for me.”
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MP Kihara had earlier in the week been summoned by the DCI over remarks allegedly undermining the authority of a public officer — an offence outlined under Section 132 of the Penal Code.
However, Kihara and her legal team argue that the section in question was declared unconstitutional in a 2016 High Court ruling.
In a letter addressed to the DCI and signed by Ndegwa & Ndegwa Advocates, the lawyers referenced Robert Alai v Attorney General, Constitutional Petition No. 174 of 2016, where Justice Chacha Mwita ruled Section 132 “unconstitutional and invalid.”
“Our client finds herself unable to engage in a process anchored in a legal provision that no longer holds constitutional weight,” the letter, circulated on Monday, stated.
DCI summons
The DCI claims it intended to question the MP over comments made at recent public rallies, which it deemed “inciteful or disruptive.”
Kihara had publicly criticised President William Ruto’s directive to security forces to shoot violent protesters in the leg — remarks that triggered national debate.
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A defiant Kihara, known for her support of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and her sharp criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration, dismissed the summons as politically motivated.
“The era of using the criminal justice system to intimidate leaders is over,” she said on Sunday. “Being summoned to the DCI will not deter the will of Kenyans. This is bigger than Jayne Kihara — it’s about our country.”
Her arrest comes at a time of heightened political tension following the Saba Saba Day commemorations and the one-year anniversary of Gen Z-led anti-tax protests, both of which have renewed scrutiny of government policies.
Kihara’s lawyers also objected to the short notice of the summons, arguing that she had insufficient time to respond appropriately to the allegations.
While the DCI has not officially responded to her legal team’s letter, its initial notice warned that failure to comply with the summons would amount to an offence under the law.
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