Manyatta MP Mukunji in night arrest drama, then release after Ruto Embu address
A dramatic scene unfolded in Embu town on Friday when Manyatta Member of Parliament (MP) Gitonga Mukunji was unexpectedly arrested during President William Ruto’s visit to the county.
Arrest Amid President’s Visit
MP Mukunji was waiting for President Ruto to address the crowd when security officers, in plain clothes, arrived and arrested him. Witnesses reported seeing the officers forcefully grab the MP, bundle him into a Subaru car, and drive off as his supporters raised alarms.
The MP was taken on a ride around the town for several hours, with his exact location unknown until he was released later in the day at Piai, a town in neighbouring Kirinyaga county.
MP Speaks Out After Release
Speaking to The Nation on the phone after his release, Mukunji confirmed the arrest. He explained that he was in the Central Business District, where the President was set to speak to the public, when six officers approached him. They arrested him without warning, pushed him into the car, and sped away.
“The officers confronted and arrested me, pushed me into the car, and took off,” Mukunji said. “They didn’t tell me why I was being arrested, but I was driven around until after the President left, and then they released me.”
No Mistreatment
Despite the sudden arrest, the MP clarified that he was not mistreated by the officers. “The officers appeared friendly and did not subject me to any form of torture,” he added.
Political Tensions Surround Arrest
Gitonga Mukunji is a known critic of President Ruto’s government and an ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. He had previously clashed with the Kenya Kwanza government over issues such as the impeachment of Gachagua and the controversial Finance Bill. Mukunji has also been outspoken about the government’s role in abductions, leading protests in Embu after a local college student, Billy Mwangi, was abducted by security officers.
His vocal opposition to the government has made him a target for criticism, but it also gained him significant support among the locals. During President Ruto’s visit, the crowd expressed their dissatisfaction with the absence of Mukunji, chanting his name as they demanded to hear from him instead of the President.
Police Respond to Arrest
Embu West Sub-county police boss, Zachary Omae, claimed he was unaware of the incident. “I was in town, and I didn’t see him being arrested. I am not aware of his arrest,” he stated when contacted for comment.
This incident highlights the tense political atmosphere in the region, as the government faces growing dissent and protests from its critics.
Manyatta MP Mukunji in night arrest drama, then release after Ruto Embu address
