Gachagua ally Gitonga Mukunji arrested over Saba Saba protests

By Newsflash Writer

Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has been arrested in connection with the Saba Saba protests held on Monday, July 7, 2025.

Mukunji is a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed his arrest in a press statement released that evening, as the country reeled from a day of nationwide demonstrations marked by violence, chaos, and conflicting accounts of police conduct.

According to the police, Mukunji was among 567 individuals arrested during the protests, which authorities said were infiltrated by criminal elements who engaged in looting, destruction of property, and attacks on law enforcement officers.

“Certain individuals remained determined to engage in acts of lawlessness,” read the statement from NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga. “Among those arrested is Hon Gitonga Mukunji, MP for Manyatta Constituency.”

While details of Mukunji’s arrest remain unclear, his detention is expected to fuel political tensions and raise questions about the targeting of vocal leaders during public demonstrations.

Protests turn deadly

The NPS reported 11 fatalities linked to the day’s events, though it did not specify how many were directly linked to police action. Eleven civilians and 52 police officers were also injured in the confrontations, which took place across multiple counties.

Property damage was extensive, with 12 police vehicles, three government vehicles, and four civilian vehicles reported destroyed during the protests. The police statement blamed “criminals who infiltrated the protests” for the violence and damage.

Earlier, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) had documented 10 deaths and 29 injuries, with many of the casualties attributed to police brutality. The Commission also criticized the use of hooded and unidentifiable police officers, and condemned instances where armed gangs were seen operating alongside law enforcement.

Police defend their conduct

Despite growing criticism, the police have defended their handling of the demonstrations, praising their officers for “exceptional restraint and professionalism” under provocation.

“NPS remains steadfast and resolute in serving and protecting all Kenyans,” the statement added. The police have launched investigations into all reported cases and encouraged members of the public to report suspects still at large through the #FichuakwaDCI hotline or emergency numbers.

The arrest of MP Mukunji adds a political layer to the unfolding events. While government officials have celebrated the reduced scale of violence compared to previous protests, civil society and opposition voices are demanding accountability for the mounting casualties and arrests, which they argue reflect state overreach and repression of dissent.

Mukunji’s allies have yet to issue a formal statement, but his arrest is expected to galvanize further criticism of the government’s response to the ongoing Gen Z-led protests and deepen scrutiny of the state’s respect for constitutional rights to assembly and expression.