Police officers have reportedly surrounded the rural home of Manyatta Member of Parliament John Gitonga Mukunji in Mutunduri, Embu County, following violent clashes that disrupted a UDA meeting at Nembure Stadium on Saturday.
A contingent of armed police officers, some in uniform and others in plainclothes, arrived at the MP's home on Sunday, September 13, and camped at his gate for hours seeking to establish the lawmaker's whereabouts.
The deployment comes a day after chaos erupted during a meeting attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire. The clashes left at least one person dead, several police officers and civilians injured, six vehicles torched and property destroyed.
The officers' presence caused panic at the homestead as they remained there for several hours, reportedly waiting to apprehend the MP over allegations linking him to the disruption.
Mukunji, who is an ally of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, has distanced himself from the violence and denied allegations linking him to the chaos.
"Sending such a big number of police to my home is unnecessary. There is a better way to use the police. A simple summon to any police station is enough. This is pure misuse of taxpayers' money," Mukunji wrote on his Facebook page after resurfacing on Sunday evening.
The MP said he was away from home attending a Sunday service in Mwea Ward, Mbeere South Constituency, when the officers arrived.
"Police came home but I had already left for church. I'm now in church, let them come and arrest me," he said.
Speaking later during a church service in Manyatta, Mukunji said he had to flee on a boda boda after learning of the officers' presence.
"Today has been a challenging day for me. I am waiting for them to come and arrest me here at the house of God. I had made the decision that, even if they try to invade my house, I will sneak using a boda boda until I come here," he said.
"They had done everything to see to it that I do not make it here, that I am stuck in that house."
Eastern Regional Police Commander Stephen Chebet, however, denied claims that police were hunting the MP, saying officers were on patrol to maintain peace.
"The officers were patrolling Mutunduri and the MP's home area is not restricted," Chebet said, though he added that police would question Mukunji if investigations established that he was linked to the violence.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said two suspects had already been arrested in connection with the unrest and detectives were pursuing additional suspects.
"Investigations are ongoing, with detectives pursuing additional suspects linked to the criminal acts committed during the unrest," the DCI stated on X.
"No grievance, disagreement or political affiliation places anyone above the law. Those who attack others, torch vehicles, destroy property, barricade public roads or assault police officers will be pursued, arrested and brought to justice," the DCI warned.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua earlier claimed that police had surrounded Mukunji's home and were seeking to arrest the MP over the Nembure incident, accusing Kindiki of threatening Mukunji in a WhatsApp message.
"The harassment of Hon. Gitonga Mukunji by Kithure Kindiki and Cecily Mbarire is unacceptable. Hundreds of policemen are surrounding his Embu home with orders to arrest him for the violent clashes between citizens and police yesterday in Embu," Gachagua said in a statement posted on X on Sunday.
Gachagua further accused Kindiki and Mbarire of attempting to associate Mukunji with the violence by alleging that he had sent goons to disrupt the meeting, and shared screenshots of alleged communication between the MP and the DP.
He said he had mobilised lawyers to defend Mukunji if he was arrested, adding that the MP was expected to attend church.
He noted that any arrest and prosecution of Mukunji would strengthen his political support ahead of next year’s elections.
“The arrest and prosecution of Hon. Mukunji will only harden the resolve of our supporters and make his election as Embu Governor a foregone conclusion next year,” he said.
He also accused the government of using the criminal justice system against political opponents.
Gachagua urged Mukunji not to be intimidated and said residents had resisted attempts to divide the region.
“I encourage the Hon. Gitonga to be strong and not succumb to intimidation. The public has done extremely well in stopping Mr. Kindiki from dividing the mountain. The Mountain is one! The future is Green,” he said.
The clashes at Nembure Stadium erupted after a group of hostile youth attempted to storm the stadium where Kindiki was addressing UDA officials. Riot police repulsed the attempt, leading to running battles that spilled onto the Embu-Meru highway.
Deputy President Kindiki condemned the violence, saying UDA regretted the loss and damage.
"I condemn violence and demand that law enforcement agencies take punitive measures against all those responsible for perpetuating political chaos," Kindiki said.
