Fury as plainclothes police camp outside Rongai artist Matiri's home without warrant ahead of protests
As Matiri remained behind his locked door, he recorded a series of videos shared on X, showing the officers—some dressed in casual clothing—persistently urging him to let them in.
Concerns over alleged intimidation and unlawful arrests have surfaced after plainclothes police officers were filmed outside the home of a Rongai-based artist, refusing to present an arrest warrant or explain their presence.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday at the home of artist Donald Matiri, who refused to open his door and instead demanded identification and legal documentation from the officers.
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While Matiri stayed behind his locked door, he recorded a series of videos shared on X, showing the officers, some in casual clothing, repeatedly urging him to let them in.
One of the officers, wearing a Maasai shuka draped over his shoulders, is seen leaning against the door and engaging in a heated exchange with Matiri.
“Tell me what you want so I may help you. What’s your name? Show your identification so the camera can record it. Display it properly so my camera can capture it. You’re a public officer. What do you want?” Matiri is heard saying.
The officer identifies himself only as “Collins” before flashing an ID card and insisting, “Fungua kwanza.” (Open first).
“Hio haiwezekani,” (That won't happen), Matiri firmly replies.
In another clip, a different officer wearing jungle fatigue and a bucket hat presses his face against the door, trying to convince Matiri to open it, again without success.
Defiant, no court order
“Show me a court order. For me to open my door, I need a court order. What is the reason for coming to my house?” Matiri asks.
“It’s very simple: You just tell us, ‘I’m not opening the door’,” the officer retorts in frustration.
“That’s fine. I’m not opening the door!” Matiri responds defiantly.
Real-time updates
The artist continued to share real-time updates on X, tagging influential figures and activists while expressing alarm over the officers’ persistent presence.
“Guys, there are officers outside my house! If you see this, repost. This is not a drill. They are still outside my house…” he posted in one of several tweets.
In response, activist Hanifa Adan commented, “Police officers are outside Donald Matiri’s house trying to arrest him!! What do you even want with someone at 6 am!!! If anything happens to Donald, National Police Service (NPS), you will pay!!”
She also urged Matiri in a separate tweet, “Please do not open the door!”
As of Tuesday evening, no explanation had been given by authorities regarding the reason behind the attempted arrest or the presence of the officers.
Nationwide protests
The incident comes barely 24 hours before planned nationwide protests scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, to commemorate the events of June 25, 2024, when demonstrators stormed Parliament in opposition to the Finance Bill, resulting in the deaths of several protesters.
Amid the tension, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has also raised fresh alarm over the mysterious disappearance of a man from his home in Kinoo, Kiambu County, over the weekend.
According to the LSK, Ndiangui Kinyagia was forcibly taken from his residence on Sunday night by individuals believed to be security officers driving Subaru vehicles.
“Mr Kinyagia’s residence was surrounded by between six and ten Subaru vehicles. His home was forcibly broken into, and the last communication he had was with his mother around 1:00 PM that day,” LSK said in a statement.
“Since then, he has disappeared without a trace.”
The officers are also said to have taken Kinyagia’s laptops and identification documents.
Man's whereabouts unknown
On Tuesday, a family member confirmed to Citizen Digital that they had not received any information about his whereabouts.
Social media users have linked Kinyagia to an X account that recently posted a viral mock invitation to Wednesday’s planned demonstrations.
The image, shared on June 19, bore the Kenyan coat of arms and an itinerary of symbolic protest activities, including a march to State House and a mock swearing-in of a “transition council”.
However, Kinyagia’s family said they could not verify if the account belonged to him.
LSK said the incident bore “the hallmarks of an enforced disappearance and a possible unlawful arrest or detention.”
“The LSK views it as a grave violation of constitutional rights and a direct attack on the rule of law in Kenya. We are demanding immediate and transparent action from the authorities,” the lawyers’ body said.
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