Businessman Jimi Wanjigi was arrested on Monday, August 19, 2024, and is currently being held at Kamukunji Police Station.
The arrest, according to the police, stems from the discovery of unlicensed firearms at Wanjigi’s residence, though he is expected to be prosecuted on Tuesday, August 20.
Wanjigi, a prominent figure in Kenya’s business and political circles, had earlier presented himself to the police for questioning over allegations of sponsoring the Nane Nane protests and possessing teargas canisters at his Muthaiga home in Nairobi.
These accusations have been vehemently denied by Wanjigi, who described them as politically motivated.
At around 4:20 p.m., Wanjigi took to his X account (formerly Twitter) to announce his detention, accusing the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of unlawfully arresting him in defiance of multiple court orders.
“The DCI has illegally arrested me despite numerous court orders barring the same arrest,” Wanjigi stated in his post.
His legal team had secured a court order on August 16, 2024, preventing the police from arresting him, following a failed attempt by the authorities to detain him at his home on August 8.
Despite these orders, Wanjigi’s arrest on Monday has raised concerns about the potential political undertones behind the legal action against him.
Police, however, insisted that his detention is unrelated to the earlier probe into the Nane Nane protests or the tear gas canister allegations, describing it as a “new matter.”
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the prosecution on Tuesday to see how this high-profile case develops.
