The interrogation of two Members of Parliament (MPs) allied to Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua has taken a new twist following fresh orders obtained by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
DCI on Tuesday, August 6, obtained orders from the High Court of Kenya to get data on two MPs allied to DP Gachagua who are accused of taking part in violent anti-government protests.
The two MPs, Embakasi Central MP Mejja Donk and his Embakasi North counterpart James Gakuya, appeared before court after being released on Wednesday last week from the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road.
Gakuya and Mejja Donk had moved to court to stop their arrest in relation to the matter.
At the same time, the Court issued orders stopping the police from arresting or detaining the two MPs as part of the probe into the funding of the Gen Z protests.
Court Issues Orders in Case Involving 2 MPs Allied to DP Gachagua
Justice Chacha Mwita issued orders stopping the arrest and detention of the two lawmakers, further announcing that directions will be issued on September 17.
“That in the meantime, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondent, their agents or servants from arresting, detaining, confining, pursuing and or in any other way interfering with the petitioner’s liberty in connection with the allegations giving rise to this petition,” Justice Mwita said in the orders dated August 5, 2024.
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The two MPs moved to court after being released on Wednesday from the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road where they were questioned over their suspected involvement in sponsoring the nationwide anti-government protests.
Arrest
MPs Gakuya and Mejja Donk had been picked on Monday, on July 31 evening in Nairobi and questioned over their possible involvement in sponsoring chaos, mayhem and anarchy in the country during the month-long anti-government protests.
According to sources within the DCI, the two were put to task to explain the source of their wealth, as detectives continue to piece together the money-trail and the activities of the two since the beginning of the protests.
The two lawmakers have, however, denied any involvement in the chaos.
“Anybody with any evidence, any fact, of whatever misdeed we did, should come very clear and tell us this particular day we financed this or mobilized that…these are the things they should table,” said Gakuya.
The two legislators who have been seen as Gachagua’s fiercest defenders termed their woes as witch-hunt and ploy to settle political scores.
“They summoned us because we’re supporters of the deputy president. We’re asking, when did we have two parties?”questioned Mejja Donk.
“We were also asked whether we were buying t-shirts and water, of which I believe that this is just political.”
DP Gachagua Issues Fresh Allegations After DCI Grills Aides
Gakuya and Mejja Donk made it five the number of Gachagua’s allies who have been grilled on the same topic, within two days.
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Also among those grilled include are three other confidants of the DP who were on Tuesday last week put to task to explain their role if – any in -sponsoring of the demos.
The three were former Embakasi West lawmaker Eric Theuri, who now works as the youth advisor in the office of the DP, and former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, who now works as a political advisor in the same office.
Also, Munene wa Mumbi, who is the private secretary of the DP recorded a statement in the widened probe.
The Court orders granted to the DCI also comes days after DP Rigathi alleged that a former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Officer who he hired after being sacked from the state agency was shot and injured while on his way to work at his Karen residence.
Gachagua while speaking on Sunday in an interview with vernacular media stations claimed that an assassin was sent after the officer.
“A former NIS officer whom I hired in my office was followed by a motorcycle to my Karen home and was shot and injured in the shoulder but luckily he went to hospital and the bullet was removed,” he said.
Gachagua said that the person behind the attempted assassination has never been arrested and the case has never been investigated.
Additionally, the DP alleged that his phones had been tapped in a wider scheme to tame him politically.
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