There was intense drama outside the Ruiru Law Courts in Kiambu County after anti-terror police officers unexpectedly re-arrested Peter Kinyanjui, popularly known as Kawanjiru, who serves as the youth leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
Kinyanjui had just been granted bond and was preparing to head home when chaos suddenly broke out.
According to videos reviewed by Newshub.co.ke, heavily armed anti-terror police officers pounced on him, forcefully dragging him into a moving police van. Simultaneously, gunshots were heard as officers fired in the air, creating a scene of panic and confusion.
The dramatic arrest led to an emotional outburst from Kinyanjui’s supporters and family members who had gathered at the court premises.
They tried desperately to stop the officers from taking him away. However, their cries and resistance were in vain as the police overpowered the crowd and drove off with Kinyanjui.
Among the most affected was Beatrice Wanjiru, Kinyanjui’s mother, who was seen wailing and struggling to catch her breath as she pleaded for her son’s freedom. Despite her visible distress and the emotional appeals from others, the officers remained unmoved.
They shoved Kinyanjui into the van and swiftly left the scene, leaving behind confusion, shock, and heartbreak. Several gunshots were fired in the air to disperse the crowd, causing people to flee in different directions out of fear.
Kinyanjui had earlier been arrested in connection with the burning of the Kiambu Law Courts, which took place during the Gen-Z-led protests on June 25, 2025. His family has claimed that the police raid at their home was violent and intimidating.
According to one family member, the officers stormed their residence, firing several gunshots to frighten neighbors who tried to intervene.
“They claimed to be from DCI Kiambu Road and said they were looking for someone named Kawanjiru. When we refused to open the door, they started banging it with metal rods,” a relative recounted, describing the terrifying ordeal.
Kinyanjui is one of several close allies of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who have recently found themselves in police custody due to their alleged involvement in the June 25 protests.
Another figure arrested was Wanjiku Thiga, who was apprehended at Kamakis in Ruiru. Although her lawyers had managed to secure her release by paying a bail of Ksh50,000, she too was re-arrested shortly afterward under unclear circumstances.
These continued arrests have sparked rising tensions within the DCP and among Gachagua’s supporters. Many youth leaders and party members now claim that they are being targeted and pressured to abandon the party—a demand they have firmly rejected.
Despite the growing fear and intimidation, a determined section of the DCP youth wing has vowed to continue with the planned Saba Saba demonstrations.
They insist that the arrests will not deter them from exercising their democratic rights and standing up for what they believe in.
The developments have raised questions about the government’s approach to dealing with dissent and political opposition, especially among the youth.
Many Kenyans are now watching closely as the situation continues to unfold, with growing concern about police conduct and the state of civil liberties in the country.
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