Police Arrest Gachagua’s Lawyer at Night

DP Rigathi Gachagua with his legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, follow proceedings during his impeachment trial at the Senate on October 16, 2024. PHOTO | COURTESY

Police officers have arrested a lawyer representing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in his ongoing impeachment case.

Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru has announced that officers from Kasarani Police Station arrested him over an alleged obstruction after his vehicle reportedly broke down along Thika Highway.

According to a statement dated July 8, Ndegwa Njiru said his vehicle developed a mechanical problem while he was driving on Thika Highway, after which police officers arrested him.

He added that he is currently being held at Kasarani Police Station and has not yet been formally booked.

“I have been arrested by the Kasarani police. I am at Kasarani Station. I am being accused of obstruction after my vehicle broke down on the Thika High. Police is yet to book me,” Ndegwa stated.

Ndegwa Njiru Says Police Arrest Was After Vehicle Broke Down on Thika Highway

However, Ndegwa Njiru did not provide further details about the incident, including the exact location along the highway where his vehicle broke down or the circumstances leading to the arrest.

The police had not publicly responded to his claims by the time of publication.

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Ndegwa Njiru first gained widespread recognition in June 2020 during the Senate hearing of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru’s impeachment by the county assembly where he was representing the Members of County Assembly (MCAs) .

After the hearing, Njiru was praised for being eloquent and giving Waiguru’s witnesses a hard time during cross-examination over alleged abuse of office and procurement issues.

However, he did not win, as the Senate committee cleared Waiguru of all the allegations she was facing.

Five months later, Ndegwa Njiru represented Nairobi County MCAs in the impeachment of former Nairobi County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko, who was impeached on December 17. 2020.

The advocate was also involved in the impeachment cases of former Embu Governor Martin Wambora and former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, where he defended both. Waititu and Wambora were impeached but Njiru secured court orders to reinstate Wambora.

He also represented former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua during his impeachment case in 2024.

Lawyer Criticises Ruto Over Ol Kalou Funding

The announcement of his arrest came hours after Njiru criticised President William Ruto over the allocation of more than Ksh10 billion to Ol Kalou ahead of the by-election.

Also Read: Lawyers Explain Why Gachagua Can Win at the Court of Appeal

In an earlier statement, Ndegwa Njiru accused Ruto of using development projects as a political tool, arguing that development should be a constitutional right rather than an election incentive.

““President Ruto has just confirmed what many Kenyans have always known, that under his leadership, development is not a right but a political bribe. How do you suddenly discover over KSh10 billion for Ol Kalou only because a by-election is around the corner? Where was this money yesterday? Where will it be tomorrow after the votes are cast?,” Ndegwa stated.

He further questioned the timing of the funding announcement, saying it amounted to the worst kind of political tokenism and undermined the principles of devolution.

Njiru also claimed that residents of Ol Kalou would distinguish genuine leadership from what he described as last-minute political gestures and expressed support for DCP candidate Sammy Ngotho in the upcoming by-election.

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