On Thursday, Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli called on former presidential candidate Jimi Wanjigi to surrender to the police.
Masengeli stated that the police had intercepted a Toyota Prado TX belonging to Wanjigi and recovered several items believed to be linked to individuals who had infiltrated the recent Nane Nane protests.
According to Masengeli, the police recovered four tear gas canisters, two Motorola devices, seven phone chargers, and one mobile phone from the Prado.
He noted that despite the protest organizers’ failure to notify the police of their intent to demonstrate, the authorities had ensured adequate security deployment and warned the public to avoid potentially volatile areas.
He had cautioned the public that intelligence had indicated that there were security threats to our country, with criminals who had planned to infiltrate today’s demonstrations and cause havoc.
“Surrender to the Nearest Police Station”
Masengeli appealed to Wanjigi, who is currently in hiding, to surrender the vehicle to the nearest police station, saying, “Our appeal is that he surrenders to the nearest Police Station.”
Earlier, a contingent of police officers had attempted to access Wanjigi’s property but were unsuccessful. The Prado in question was reportedly spotted along Limuru Road, allegedly distributing money.
Masengeli stated that the police had trailed a motorcade belonging to former presidential aspirant Jimi Wanjigi to his residence, where one vehicle was intercepted outside the gate as others made their way inside the compound, with the gate then closed. Masengeli explained,
“As we informed the public yesterday, our intelligence had indicated that there were security threats to our country, with criminals who had planned to infiltrate today’s demonstrations and cause havoc.”
Wanjigi, who was not present during the incident, took to Twitter to lament that the police were planning to raid his home.
His son, Maina Wanjigi, stated that the family was unsurprised by the events, saying,
“It’s not shocking. It’s not the first time we have been raided. It seems whenever we are a threat to them, they decide to raid us.”
The acting Inspector General of Police further revealed that one officer was injured during the Nane Nane protests, and 174 suspects were arrested, with 126 of them in Nairobi.
