Three politicians aligned with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have been granted temporary relief after the High Court in Nairobi issued orders on Friday, preventing their arrest, detention, and prosecution.
The trio—former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, former Embakasi West MP George Theuri, and Pius Munene—secured the ruling from High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi. The judge directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to halt any actions against the politicians, while instructing the petitioners to serve their case to the respondents within seven days.
Justice Mugambi set the matter for mentioning on October 15, 2024.
The three politicians sought legal intervention, claiming they learned on September 26, 2024, of a plot between the respondents to arrest and prosecute them on what they described as fabricated charges.
They argued that the planned arrest and prosecution amounted to a travesty of justice and an abuse of legal procedures.
This development follows DPP Renson Ingonga’s approval of charges against five individuals accused of organizing, mobilizing, and financing youth-led anti-government protests in June. The other two individuals facing charges are MPs James Gakuya (Embakasi North) and Benjamin Gathiru Mejja Donko (Embakasi Central).
In a letter dated September 26, 2024, to DCI Director Amin Mohamed, the DPP authorized the prosecution of the five politicians, all of whom are allied with DP Gachagua.
“Upon careful perusal, the DPP has directed that there is sufficient evidence to charge the suspects with the offence of conspiracy to commit felony contrary to section 393 of the Penal code. In addition, a separate inquiry file should be opened for money laundering and financial crimes related offenses,” read part of the letter.
