The High Court sitting in Nairobi handed embattled businessman Jimi Wanjigi a lifeline, issuing orders restraining the police from arresting or detaining him.
While issuing the orders, Justice Bahati Mwamuye certified the matter as urgent and directed that it be mentioned on August 16, 2024.
“Pending the inter-partes hearing and determination of the Application dated 08/08/2024, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued restraining the Respondents jointly and severally, their servants, agents, or third parties acting under the direction or authority of the Respondents from detaining, arresting, or restraining the liberty and freedom of movement of the Petitioner/Applicant, Jimi Wanjigi,” read the court orders.
Wanjigi had earlier in the day moved to court and sued law enforcement authorities over the raid staged at his residence terming the siege as a violation of his rights and a failure to be treated equally under the law.
Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli had on Thursday ordered the flamboyant businessman to surrender himself to the police to record a statement after the agency accused Wanjigi of funding the Nane Nane anti-government protests.
While delivering the remarks, Masengeli claimed that the police had recovered teargas cannisters and other assorted items from a Prado TX belonging to Wanjigi, which were allegedly going to be used in the protests.
Wanjigi's advocate Willis Otieno while addressing journalists on Friday accused the police of attempting to persecute his client for having a contrary political opinion to the government of the day.
He also revealed that the police had conducted three separate raids at the businessman's palatial home located in the leafy Muthaiga Suburb in Nairobi County.
Two of the raids were conducted on Thursday at 7pm and the other at around midnight. The third raid was conducted early Friday morning.
"When the police illegally entered the house. The lawyers and members of the family participated. We inventoried all the items and after a long night of search they left. But early in the morning the officers returned, forcing family members out of their rooms purporting to conduct a search," the advocate stated.
Jimi Wanjigi's family would further state that the police, while conducting the different raids, assaulted them.
"They came around 7pm. I was beaten by 5 officers. My mother and sister were asked to lie on the floor, they were kicked in the head, they conducted a search. The WiFi Signal is all down. We don't know what they want," a visibly emotional Maina Wanjigi told journalists at the Muthaiga home.
