Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara has been summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over statements perceived to challenge the authority of President William Ruto.
According to a formal notice issued by Assistant Inspector General George Lenny Kisaka, Kihara is expected to appear at DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road in Nairobi on Monday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. The summons relate to an ongoing investigation into remarks made by the MP that authorities say may amount to “inciteful or disruptive content.”
“I hereby compel you, Hon. Jayne Njeri Wanjiku Kihara, MP for Naivasha Constituency… to appear before me… without fail,” read the notice served to her on Friday. The document also warned that non-compliance would result in prosecution.
Kihara has come under scrutiny after publicly describing President Ruto as “mad” in response to his directive instructing police to shoot violent protesters in the legs to immobilize them. The comment, which she made during a public address, has drawn widespread attention and condemnation from allies of the president.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Kihara dismissed the summons as an attempt to intimidate dissenting voices. “The days of using state agencies to bully leaders are behind us. Summoning me won’t change the fact that Kenyans are awake. This is bigger than Jayne Kihara it’s about the future of our country,” she wrote.
Kihara, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has been a consistent critic of the current administration, particularly its response to public demonstrations and dissent.
The summons come in the wake of the July 7 Saba Saba protests and renewed political unrest over Boniface Kariuki’s death. Civil society groups have accused the government of responding to protests with excessive force and criminalizing dissent.
Section 132 of Kenya’s Penal Code criminalizes statements that undermine the authority of public officers, a provision critics argue has been used to silence legitimate criticism.
As of Sunday evening, there was no official comment from State House or the Interior Ministry regarding Kihara’s remarks or the DCI action. The MP has confirmed she will honor the summons.
About the Author
