Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi.
The arrest occurred along the Eastern Bypass while Waititu was going about his daily business, according to his lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru.
According to Kenyans.co.ke, Njiru confirmed that the former governor was ambushed by DCI detectives and taken into custody at the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road.
Also present with Waititu at the DCI facility was former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, who accompanied him following the arrest.
Waititu faces accusations of making hate speech remarks during a past event in Kiambu County, where he allegedly spoke in his native Kikuyu language.
The nature of the speech and its implications remain under investigation.
“They have informed us that they arrested him due to alleged hate speech utterances made in Kikuyu,” Njiru told the media.
He added that the arrest seemed like an attempt to have Waititu incriminate himself, and he instructed his client to remain silent as per Kenya’s constitutional right to silence.
Njiru further criticized the arrest, calling it an infringement on Waititu’s freedom of expression, which is protected under the law.
Despite requests to have the former governor released on bail or bond, detectives have insisted on holding him as they complete preliminary investigations.
Waititu’s legal team is continuing discussions with the DCI, seeking his release from custody.
Further updates on the case are expected as investigations continue.
