Manyatta Member of Parliament (MP) John Gitonga Mukunji has claimed that armed police officers raided his home on Sunday morning, September 13, as authorities reportedly sought to arrest him over the violence witnessed during a rally in Embu County.
Speaking during a church service in Manyatta Constituency, Embu County, Mukunji alleged that police had made several attempts to apprehend him but that he managed to evade arrest.
The lawmaker said he received information that security officers were at his residence, prompting him to leave the house and travel to the church on a motorcycle.
"Today has been a challenging day for me. I am waiting for them to come and arrest me here at the house of God. I had made the decision that, even if they try to invade my house, I will sneak using a boda boda until I come here," stated Mukunji.
He further claimed that the officers had taken measures to prevent him from attending the church service, adding, "They had done everything to see to it that I do not make it here, that I am stuck in that house."
Mukunji, a political ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and a member of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP), has been drawn into the fallout surrounding clashes that erupted during a political rally in Embu County on Saturday.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has linked the legislator to the violence, which left several people feared dead and vehicles torched.
Mukunji's allegations came hours after Gachagua also raised concerns over what he described as an attempted arrest of the MP at his Embu residence.
In a statement shared on social media, Gachagua claimed that hundreds of police officers had been deployed around Mukunji's home with instructions to arrest him.
He accused Kindiki and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire of allegedly subjecting the legislator to harassment and intimidation.
“The harassment of Hon. Gitonga Mukunji by Kithure Kindiki and Cecily Mbarire is unacceptable. Hundreds of policemen are surrounding his Embu home with orders to arrest him for the violent clashes between citizens and police yesterday in Embu,” Gachagua stated.
Gachagua also shared screenshots purportedly showing WhatsApp exchanges between Mukunji and Kindiki, in which the Deputy President allegedly accused the MP of being involved in plans to trigger the violence.
"My brother, I have always respected you and your decision not to work with us. However, you have decided to fight me directly, but there is no problem; I am ready," the screenshot, purportedly from the Deputy President, stated in part.
The claims emerged as security agencies intensified investigations into the Embu clashes.
The National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the violence, with investigations still underway.
Police have also launched a wider manhunt for additional suspects believed to have been involved in the unrest.
