In a dramatic and controversial turn of events, police forces executed a prolonged and violent raid on the Muthaiga residence of businessman and Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi on Thursday evening.
The nine-hour ordeal, which began around 5 pm, has been described by Wanjigi’s family as a harrowing experience marked by excessive force and human rights abuses.
According to Maina Wanjigi, the son of the embattled businessman, the raid commenced with police surrounding the property and demanding entry.
By 7 pm, the situation escalated when officers forcibly breached the doors, leading to a violent search of the premises.
Maina Wanjigi reported that the police violently assaulted family members, including his mother and sister.
“They kicked my mother and sister in the head while they were lying on the floor,” Maina recounted.
“I was beaten by five officers, while my mother and sister were forced to lie on the floor and were kicked in the head.”
The extensive search continued late into the night, with officers confiscating various electronic devices, including iPhones, iPads, and walkie-talkies.
According to the family’s lawyer, Willis Otieno, the police seized even trivial items such as a fuelling receipt.
“The police took everything they considered evidence,” Otieno confirmed.
The situation worsened at 6 am on Friday when officers returned for a second raid. They cut off power and WiFi before storming the bedrooms.
“Masked men dragged us from our beds, pointing assault rifles at us,” Maina Wanjigi described.
Otieno added, “My clients were woken up by marauding men jumping in their rooms, wearing balaclavas and carrying assault rifles, pointing them at my clients and forcing them out of their beds.”
In response to the raid, Wanjigi’s daughter, Wambui Wanjigi, expressed her outrage and defiance.
“The police came to humiliate us and to degrade us, but one thing that I can take out of today, is that I have never been prouder to be Wanjigi’s daughter,” she declared.
The raid comes amid allegations by Acting Police Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli, who has accused Wanjigi of harboring security threats. Masengeli claimed that a vehicle at Wanjigi’s residence contained tear gas canisters intended for use in protests.
“Our intelligence indicated that there were plans to infiltrate today’s protests and cause havoc. We intercepted a personal vehicle at Wanjigi’s residence and found the canisters,” Masengeli alleged.
Despite these accusations, Wanjigi has yet to surrender to authorities and has instead opted to challenge the legality of the raid through legal channels, suing the government for what he describes as an unlawful invasion of his privacy and rights.
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