Manyatta MP Mukunji in night arrest drama, then release after Ruto Embu address

Drama unfolded Friday after Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji was arrested in Embu town during President William Ruto's visit to the county.

The MP was waiting for the President to arrive in town to address the gathering when security officers arrived and arrested him.

He was bundled into a Subaru car and taken away as his supporters protested.

The MP was taken around the town for hours and later released at the Piai area in the neighbouring Kirinyaga county.

Witnesses said they saw the officers, who were in plain clothes, grab the lawmaker and forced him into the car and sped off to an unknown destination.

MP confirms

Speaking to the Nation on phone after being released, the MP said he was in the Central Business District where the President was to address the crowd when six officers pulled up and took him by surprise.

"The officers confronted and arrested me, they pushed me into the car, and sped off with me sandwiched. They took me round and set me free after the Head of State left," he said.

Mr Mukunji said he was not given the reasons why he had been seized.

"They were six officers including the driver. They confronted me before the President arrived and whisked me off," said Mr Mukunji.

No assault

The MP said the officers didn't mistreat him.

"The officers appeared friendly and didn't subject me to any form of torture," he said.

He had arrived in town to welcome President together with his constituents.

Mr Mukunji, an ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has been a strong critic of President Ruto's government.

He fell out with the Kenya Kwanza government when he refused to participate in the impeachment of Mr Gachagua.

Mr Mukunji was also among Mt Kenya MPS who rejected the controversial Finance Bill.

Further, Mr Mukunji has been in the forefront in condemning the abductions of Kenyans who are critic of the government.

At one time he led anti-abduction demonstrations in Embu after a college student Billy Mwangi was abducted by security officers and detained for weeks.

Following the demonstrations, the student was released and narrated how he went through hell in the hands of the abductors.

During his address in the town, Dr Ruto faced some hostility from the crowd when he introduced Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

Some youths, who were chanting pro Mukunji slogans, demanded that they wanted to be addressed by Mr Mukunji but the President ignored them.

Contacted for a comment, Embu West Sub-county police boss Zachary Omae said he was not aware that the MP had been arrested.

“I was in town and where I was standing I didn’t see him and I am not aware of his arrest,” said Mr Omae said.

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