Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji was on Monday, July 7, arrested in connection with the chaos that erupted in parts of Embu County during Saba Saba Day protests. The legislator was apprehended around 3:00 p.m. and booked at Kibii Police Station at 3:53 p.m., according to his lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru.
Shortly after his booking, Mukunji was taken by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based in Juja. Njiru revealed that the MP was registered under Occurrence Book (OB) number 06/07/07/2025. He was briefly detained for what authorities described as the “exclusive purpose of holding him” before being transferred to an undisclosed location. As of Monday evening, Mukunji’s whereabouts remained unclear, and his vehicle was still parked at the Kibii Police Station. His wife was reportedly searching for him.
The National Police Service later issued a statement confirming the arrest of Mukunji alongside other suspects linked to the unrest. He is expected to face charges related to incitement to violence, although specific details were not immediately provided.
The chaos in Embu formed part of a larger wave of protests that swept across several regions of Kenya, leading to significant unrest. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported at least 10 deaths, 29 injuries, two abductions, and 37 arrests in connection with the demonstrations.
Violent confrontations and shooting incidents were recorded in areas such as Ngong, Thika, Juja, Kangemi, Dagoretti, and Embu. Major roads were blocked by police, severely limiting movement, especially in Nairobi. Blockades were also reported in Kiambu, Meru, Kisii, Nyeri, Nakuru, and Embu counties.
Businesses in many parts of the country remained shut due to fears of looting and property damage. In Kirinyaga County, suspected criminals set fire to the Kerugoya Central Constituency Development Fund (CDF) office. Meanwhile, learning activities were disrupted nationwide as schools remained closed, despite directives from the Ministry of Public Service requiring government staff to report to work.
