Kindiki insists evidence shows politicians were involved in anti-govt protests

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Thursday affirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) possesses evidence implicating high-profile persons in facilitating the recent Gen Z protests.

Speaking Thursday when he appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Kindiki stated that the DCI plans to charge these individuals soon.

He emphasised that the government will not tolerate a repeat of the violence that erupted in June and July.

"I am informed by DCI that high-level prosecutions will ensue anytime from now, including political leaders who financed — and we have evidence — they financed people to loot shops, to kill Kenyans, expose them to danger, and we cannot countenance the kind of mayhem we saw in July and June for whatever reason," Kindiki said.

The CS insisted that the government cannot allow this to happen again.

"And that's why I've said this job is a very unpopular job. We will do it. We are going to prosecute high-level people who assisted criminals to harm other people, to destroy infrastructure, and they have even made an attempt to actually bring down such a serious institution like the Parliament," Kindiki said.

His statements follow recommendations from the DCI to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to charge five politicians for various offences related to the anti-government protests.

They include MPs Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi (Embakasi Central), James Mwangi Gakuya (Embakasi North) and former MPs George Theuri (Embakasi West), Martin Deric Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri Town) and Pius Munene.

In a letter dated September 24, 2024, DCI’s Director of Investigations Abdalla Komesha revealed that the five were implicated in these activities after several meetings at a Nairobi hotel.

According to the letter, the politicians were questioned by the DCI in July and August, which led to the recommendation that some of them face charges.

The charges include soliciting or inciting others to commit offences, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code.

One of the MPs will also face further charges related to money laundering.

"Efforts are being made to obtain all financial data from FRC, Safaricom, and banks where financial transactions were carried out," the DCI said in the statement.