Two Members of Parliament affiliated with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and Embakasi Central MP Mejja Donk, were released from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road on Wednesday evening.
The MPs had been questioned regarding their alleged involvement in anti-government protests that have led to violence and looting in some areas.
Gakuya and Donk, who were picked up near a city hotel earlier in the day, denied any connection to the unrest.
Gakuya expressed frustration over his arrest, labeling it a “witchhunt” and challenging anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to come forward.
“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,” he stated.
Both MPs criticized the allegations as politically motivated. Gakuya argued that the protests were spontaneous and not orchestrated by political figures.
“They should stop witch-hunting people by painting them as followers of somebody because we’re not. We’re members of UDA and we’re loyal to both of them,” he said.
Donk added that their detention was a result of their association with Gachagua, asserting, “We were also asked whether we were buying t-shirts and water, of which I believe that this is just political.”
He questioned the fairness of being scrutinized simply for their political affiliation, asking, “When did we have two parties?”
A small group of supporters gathered outside the DCI headquarters to welcome the MPs upon their release.
Police indicated that their investigation into the MPs’ alleged involvement in the protests is ongoing and that the case will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for further action.
