Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on Friday, July 19, 2025, after spending a night in police custody following her controversial arrest the previous night. The move sparked public attention and political reactions, with questions raised about the motive, manner, and timing of her detention.
The arrest was carried out by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who descended on the MP’s residence in Naivasha under the cover of darkness.
According to sources close to the matter, Kihara had earlier received a summons from the DCI, which she allegedly declined to honour. The details of the summons were not immediately made public, but it is believed they were connected to allegations of incitement and undermining of a senior public officer.
What made the incident even more dramatic was Kihara’s decision to livestream the arrest. In the video, which quickly went viral, the MP appeared visibly composed but firm.
She questioned the legality of the operation, stating that she had not received any formal communication and that she was willing to cooperate if proper legal procedures were followed.
“I am not running,” she stated in the video. “If they had something to ask me, they could have summoned me per the law. This is not how elected leaders should be treated.”
Kihara was first taken to Naivasha Police Station, where she was briefly held before being transferred overnight to Pangani Police Station in Nairobi. Her legal team has since protested the transfer, calling it unjustified and accusing the authorities of orchestrating a show of force designed to humiliate and intimidate her.
They also faulted the State for violating her rights as a sitting Member of Parliament, stating that the arrest was not only unnecessary but also politically motivated.
When she appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on Friday morning, Kihara was accompanied by a team of lawyers and close political allies. Although the exact charges were not formally read out to the media, it was widely understood that the arrest was linked to public remarks she made at a recent rally.
Reports suggest that the MP had made comments perceived as inflammatory and disrespectful to a senior state officer, triggering the interest of the investigative agencies.
Outside the courtroom, political leaders came out in full support of the embattled MP. Among them was Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who criticised the government for what he described as the misuse of state power.
Speaking to the press, Kalonzo said, “This is not just about Jayne Kihara. It is about silencing leaders who speak their minds. If this is allowed to continue, it will take us back to darker days when dissent was criminalised.”
Other political figures, including fellow MPs from Rift Valley and Central Kenya, condemned the arrest and described it as an attack on democratic freedoms. They maintained that Kihara’s arrest was part of a broader pattern of intimidation targeting legislators who are outspoken on governance issues and national accountability.
The MP herself remained defiant throughout the ordeal. Speaking briefly to journalists outside the court, she said she would not be cowed by what she described as “politically engineered drama.”
She asserted her right to represent the people of Naivasha and vowed to continue speaking out, regardless of the consequences. “I will not be silenced,” she said. “I am an elected leader. I speak for the people. If that is a crime, then let justice take its course.”
Her legal team is expected to challenge the charges in court.
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