Maina Njenga Arrested in Night Raid, Says Lawyer

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga was on Wednesday night arrested by a group of 50 police officers who raided his Kiserian home. 

His lawyer Ndegwa Njiru revealed that Njenga was taken into custody without being informed of the charges or reasons for his arrest. Additionally, his brother Njoroge Njenga and personal assistant Ole Lekishe were also whisked away during the night raid. Njiru said the arrests are an attempt to quell anti-government protests. 

The arrests occurred on the same day that Raila Odinga's associates and political allies were also taken into custody. Despite the protests being scheduled for three days, the first day saw little participation in major cities, with protests being contained in the outskirts of traditionally opposition areas. After searching for Babu Ongili in over five police stations on Wednesday, his wife Fridah Ongili pleaded with the government to release her husband. 

“Yesterday (Tuesday, July 18), he called me at around 11:00 PM and told me that he was at the airport and had been detained by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers," Fridah narrated. 

She revealed that the lawmaker is being held at Wanguru Police Station in Mwea and that the officers were processing him before arraignment. Meanwhile, Azimio principal Martha Karua has blamed the government for the violence that occurred during Wednesday's protests. She reiterated that the peaceful anti-government protests will continue as planned. 

"Once again, the people have spoken loudly and clearly by denouncing the punitive taxes imposed on them by the illegitimate Kenya Kwanza regime through the ill-fated Finance Act 2023. In one accord, the people have declared that if the regime cannot listen to them, they will liberate and fend for themselves," Karua stated.