Mombasa County Lands and Urban Planning Executive Committee (CEC) member, Mohamed Hussein, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the gang-rape of a blogger who had publicly criticised Governor Abdulswamad Nassir.
The arrest followed an ongoing investigation into the violent attack, which has sent shockwaves across the coastal city.
According to Coast Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Adan Guyo, Hussein is being linked to the brutal assault that occurred in early September.
The blogger had reportedly condemned the county leadership, sparking the alleged retaliation.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to the high-profile individuals involved and the nature of the crime.
Relatives of Hussein claim that he was abducted by seven men while having lunch with a colleague at a Mombasa restaurant, adding that the arrest is part of a larger scheme aimed at persecuting those associated with Governor Nassir.
“In a series of unfortunate persecutory events over the past two weeks, this is another incident over the allegations leveled against the Governor of Mombasa and his supporters for no crime other than leading the people of Mombasa,” a family member said in a statement to the press.
This latest development follows the charging of four suspects in Shanzu Court last week, accused of abduction and rape in connection with the same incident.
The suspects, who denied the allegations, were linked to the abduction and assault of the blogger on September 12 at an undisclosed location.
Two of the four suspects face individual charges of gang rape, with others still at large.
Governor Nassir’s family has also been dragged into the case, with investigators suspecting that Nassir’s mother may have helped some of the suspects evade arrest.
Police say they are currently pursuing at least 11 other individuals suspected of being involved in the crime, with further arrests expected as the investigation continues.
