Jimi Wanjigi's family accuses police of political harassment during home raid

The family of businessman Jimi Wanjigi accused police officers who were laying siege to their home on Friday of using their presence to settle political scores rather than doing their professional duties.

Police have camped at the residence of the former presidential candidate, whom they suspect of supporting the continuing anti-government rallies.

When The Eastleigh Voice visited the politicians' home, there was a notable police presence both outside and inside the property. Police vehicles were parked outside the gate, while armed officers patrolled the compound in the green suburb.

Mary Nzisa, Wanjigi's wife, led his two children and his mother in condemning the police presence at their compound.

"We do not know what they want. Their camping in our compound is illegal because they have not shown us any court warrant that permits them here," says Maina Wanjigi, son of Jimi Wanjigi.

According to the family, police who stormed their home on Thursday night attacked them twice before seizing their possessions, including phones and jewellery.

"Our valuables such as phones and jewellery have been taken away by police officers who raided our home while hooded," said Maina.

The police also turned off the home's electricity and internet connection.

Detectives label evidence they claim to have found at politician Jimi Wanjigi's Muthaiga home on Friday 9, 2024. (Photo: Barack Oduor)

Police officers searching for lawmaker Jimi Wanjigi have yet to locate him.

Martha Karua and Wanjigi's lawyer Willis Otieno, who were at the compound, complained that police were harassing the family and that the raid was illegal.

"If the police intend to arrest Jimy Wanjigi.Why can't they do it correctly?" said Otieno.

The lawyer interpreted police actions as malicious, claiming that there is no evidence linking Wanjigi to the funding of ongoing demonstrations against President William Ruto's government.

The lawyer stated that the allegations that hand grenades and police helmets were discovered in Wanjigi's home are all incorrect.

On Thursday night, a multi-agency squad burst into businessman Jimi Wanjigi's Nairobi home in an unsuccessful attempt to arrest him.

On Thursday evening, the team slept outside his home in Muthaiga for hours, attempting to gain access to the premises before breaking in.

They then conducted a search of the house for Wanjigi and what they described as more evidence. They had not found him by midnight.

His lawyer, Willis Otieno, stated that the squad, backed by heavily armed police officers, lacked a warrant for the search they staged.

"They did this as the traumatised family members watched. We were not provided a search warrant or even told why they were doing so," he added.

Wanjigi denied police charges that he was carrying four teargas canisters in his vehicle.

He called the claims "as usual lies the police are used to" and promised to show the public how they were planted.

Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli had instructed Wanjigi to surrender for questioning.

This comes after they allegedly recovered teargas canisters from his car at his entrance in Muthaiga Masengeli, who claimed Thursday they are hunting for Wanjigi.

"Today (Thursday), we intercepted a personal motor vehicle in Muthaiga at Jimi Wanjigi's residence. We found four teargas canisters, two Motorola gadgets, seven pocket phone chargers, and one mobile phone in the truck," he said.

He stated that they are detaining one suspect but have yet to locate Wanjigi.

"There is an arrest of one person but we appeal for him (Wanjigi) to surrender to the police," he said.

Armed police attacked and encircled Wanjigi's home in Muthaiga, Nairobi, on Thursday following a brief pursuit of his automobile.

According to witnesses, the vehicle approached Wanjigi's residence at high speed and parked outside the gate, where the passengers disembarked and entered the compound.

Wanjigi was later observed handing out money to others, ostensibly to support continuing protests, according to police.

They claim that the businessman arranged for many demonstrators to be dropped off at Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).

The car being scrutinised outside Wanjigi's gate is reported to be one of many that made the alleged drops, with Wanjigi on board.

According to Masengeli, the gadgets were discovered during a search of the four-wheel drive vehicle.