Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara has been presented at the Milimani Law Courts after spending a night in police custody, following her arrest on Thursday at her residence in Nakuru County.
Kihara’s arraignment comes amid mounting political tension, with her arrest sparking sharp criticism from her supporters and allies. A video shared by Citizen Digital showed the legislator being escorted from a green Subaru into the courtroom by security officers under tight guard.
The MP was dramatically arrested during a live broadcast on her Facebook page, shortly after holding a meeting with sand harvesters from Mai Mahiu. A group of officers, both in uniform and plain clothes, stormed her compound and led her into an SUV before taking her to Naivasha Police Station. She was later moved to the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road in Nairobi, and eventually held overnight at Pangani Police Station.
Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and other political leaders arrived at Milimani to follow the court proceedings, highlighting the case’s growing political significance. Earlier, Kihara’s lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, raised concern over her whereabouts after she was allegedly brought to court at around 7 a.m. but not booked into the holding cells.
“We are at Milimani. At around 7:00 am, the client was brought here but held at the parking. She wasn’t booked at the holding cells. At around 8:20 am, she was whisked away in a green Subaru to an unknown destination. We are stranded,” Njiru posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Kihara’s arrest follows her failure to honour a summons by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). According to a notice from Assistant Inspector General George Lenny Kisaka, the MP was expected to appear at DCI headquarters on Monday to record a statement regarding remarks she allegedly made that were seen to undermine the authority of a senior public official.
As the case proceeds, the circumstances of her arrest and subsequent treatment have triggered legal and political debate, with calls for due process and respect for the rights of elected leaders.
