Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has condemned the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for arresting two MPs allied to him, accusing the agency of politicizing justice.
During a church service on Sunday, September 8, Gachagua criticized the arrests of Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru, also known as Mejja Donk.
The Deputy President claimed that the DCI was being used for political purposes, a trend he believes undermined the previous government. “I urge our security officers at the DCI not to take us back to where we were. Using the criminal justice system to control politics contributed to the unpopularity of the last administration,” Gachagua remarked.
Gakuya and Mejja Donk were arrested on suspicion of financing anti-tax protests held in June and July. They were also questioned regarding inflammatory remarks made by Gakuya about the Somali community in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), prompting a summon from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) on September 3.
Gachagua denounced the arrests, labeling them as harassment, and urged investigative agencies to maintain professionalism. “Harassing Gakuya and Mejja Donk for political reasons is uncalled for. Confiscating their phones and intimidating them is unnecessary,” he said.
The Deputy President emphasized that the DCI should focus on fighting crime, warning that targeting elected leaders would hurt the government’s image. He urged the agency to operate within constitutional boundaries, particularly following the Kenyan Constitution, the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Evidence Act.
Gachagua also advised the DCI to prioritize rising crime rates across Nairobi instead of pursuing politically motivated arrests. “Arresting these leaders only makes them more popular. Focus on dealing with criminals and leave elected leaders alone,” he concluded.
