Update 8.50: Police officers have broken into Jimi Wanjigi's residence in Muthaiga, gaining access to the palatial home.
Footage showed the officers entering the home, just hours after pitching tent outside his gate.
Hours earlier, Wanjigi's lawyer, flanked by the businessman's son Maina, accused the government of resorting to underhand tactics after becoming intimidated by his constant criticism of the government.
Wanjigi has been a constant thorn in the flesh of the Kenya Kwanza government, particularly exposing the administration's fiscal indiscipline and blatant inability to account for loans taken from development partners.
This comes years after the Uhuru Kenyatta government raided the residence after which the then National Police Service Spokesperson Eric Kiraithe accused Wanjigi of being a 'nefarious criminal' posing a threat to democracy and stability.
Businessman Jimi Wanjigi’s residence in the affluent Muthaiga neighbourhood was the scene of high drama on Thursday evening as police officers surrounded his home in what he termed as a targeted raid.
Police cordoned off his residence with yellow tape, used to stop people from interfering with crime scenes. What we know so far is that police we following a black Prado TX which was cornered outside Wanjigi's home.
Witnesses described the scenes before police arrived, narrating that the black car raced and parked outside the home before those in the car disembarked and left. Just seven minutes later, police arrived and surrounded the car, before more heavily armed officers joined them and began searching the car.
According to initial reports, the car had allegedly been spotted along Limuru Road earlier in the day, accompanied by a group of individuals and supposedly distributing money.
Authorities claimed that when they attempted to apprehend those who were in the car, but they fled, eventually disappearing into Karura Forest. Wanjigi vehemently denied these accusations, questioning the rationale behind the police’s actions.
The multi-agency operation had officers drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and regular police. The police dusted the car, and recovered assorted electronic gadgets including walkie-talkies which they carried as evidence.
The car was also towed and taken to the Central Police Station.
Wanjigi, known for his outspoken political views, expressed confusion and fear over the sudden police presence, questioning their intentions and the legality of their actions.
The businessman reported that the police were demanding entry into his home, a move he described as an unwarranted invasion. “The police have decided to raid my home,” he added, highlighting the tense situation as more officers continued to arrive at the scene.
His son, Maina Wanjigi, speaking moments after the raid claimed he and his family were not surprised by the events. "It's not shocking. It's not the first time we have been raided. It seems whenever we are a threat to them, they decide to raid us," he stated.
He went on to add, "Why is it that when you show an opinion against the government, you are raided?"
The businessman condemned the raid as a blatant act of harassment, suggesting that the authorities were attempting to intimidate him due to his political stance.
Police have since left without breaking into the home. But took the alleged car.
The tension in Muthaiga evoked memories of previous encounters between Wanjigi and law enforcement, raising questions about the motives behind the operation.
This incident is not the first time Wanjigi’s properties have been the focus of police attention. In January 2022, heavily armed officers stormed his Westlands office in a similar raid. The most infamous episode occurred in October 2017 when his Muthaiga home was besieged by police, leading to a dramatic standoff that saw opposition leader Raila Odinga and his allies camp outside his home in solidarity.
During the 2017 raid, police claimed to have recovered five AK-47 rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from Wanjigi’s residence. However, attempts to arrest him were unsuccessful as he managed to evade capture. The businessman was later accused of being involved in the illegal importation of firearms, allegations that he has consistently denied.
