Protests Rock Mwea Over Missing Former MP Peter Gitau Njuguna
Protests erupted in Mwea town on Friday following the alleged abduction of former Mwea Member of Parliament Peter Gitau Njuguna, an incident that has triggered growing public concern over the rule of law and the conduct of security agencies.
Residents took to the streets to demand the immediate release of the former legislator, blocking roads and chanting slogans calling for justice, days after his family reported his disappearance to the authorities.
According to reports from the family, Mr Gitau was at his home in Nakuru on Wednesday night when several men arrived and parked outside his gate. Witnesses said the individuals were travelling in a Subaru vehicle accompanied by two Toyota ProBox cars, a combination commonly associated with security operations.
Alarmed by the presence of the vehicles, the former MP reportedly contacted local police officers, who arrived at the scene shortly afterwards. However, the officers allegedly left after a brief interaction with the men, raising questions about the nature of the operation and who authorised it.
Hours later, Mr Gitau was allegedly taken away, and his whereabouts have remained unknown since.
The family says they reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Nakuru and later followed up at the agency’s headquarters, but were unable to obtain clear information regarding his arrest or detention.
On Friday, anger spilled onto the streets of Mwea as residents accused state agencies of operating outside the law and demanded transparency.
“Our former MP was taken. He was taken by unknown people, but we hear it is the DCI,” one protester told journalists, as demonstrators waved placards and blocked key roads in the town.
Others insisted that even if the former legislator was suspected of wrongdoing, the law must be followed.
“If Gitau has wronged the government or wronged an individual, let him be legally arrested and taken to court,” another resident said. “Let us meet in court with lawyers present. And if this is about politics, we are not going down.”
Demonstrators said they had not received any official communication explaining why Mr Gitau was allegedly taken or where he is being held, fuelling fears of enforced disappearance.
“On January 14 at 2am, Gitau was taken. Now we don’t know where he is. We want him back,” another protester said.
The incident has reignited debate about the conduct of arrests in Kenya, particularly allegations of plain-clothes operations and detentions carried out without public disclosure.
Human rights groups have previously warned that such actions undermine constitutional protections, including the right to be informed of the reasons for arrest, access to legal representation, and timely presentation before a court.
As of Friday evening, no official statement had been issued confirming Mr Gitau’s arrest or explaining the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
His family and former constituents are now calling on the relevant authorities to publicly disclose his location, clarify whether he is in lawful custody, and outline the charges—if any—being brought against him.
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Protests Rock Mwea Over Missing Former MP Peter Gitau Njuguna