The High Court has obtained an interim injunction to stop the police from arresting businessman Jimi Wanjigi and restricting his movements.
On Friday, August 9, 2024, Justice Bahati Mwamuye declared the case urgent and issued conservatory orders prohibiting authorities from holding, apprehending, and limiting Wanjigi’s freedom of travel.
The court scheduled a mention of the matter for August 16, 2024.
But until the August 8, 2024, inter-partes hearing and decision on the application, Justice Mwamuye issued a conservatory order that said the respondents, along with their employees, agents, or third parties acting on their behalf, could not detain, arrest, or limit the petitioner/applicant Jimi Wanjigi’s freedom of movement or liberty.
Police implicated the businessman in yesterday’s Nane Nane demonstrations, and he filed a plea to avoid jail time.
Officers retrieved tear gas canisters, Motorola communication devices, and other equipment from a car discovered at the gate to Wanjigi’s Muthaiga residence, according to Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli.
“Our surveillance had suggested that there were significant security threats to our nation’s safety from individuals who were preparing to infiltrate today’s demonstration and cause havoc,” Masengeli added, as he had told the public yesterday.
“We would like to notify the public that Jimi Wanjigi’s home in Muthaiga is where we stopped a personal motor vehicle today—a Prado type KDC 883R. The car contained four tear gas canisters, two Motorola devices, seven different pocket phone chargers, and one cell phone.
In reaction, Wanjigi denounced the intimidation he had received from the police, claiming that they had tried to forcibly detain him and had teargassed him.
“Unless this Honorable Court steps in immediately, any attempt to apprehend me will be arbitrary and determined to humiliate and persuade me and otherwise cause me psychological distress without just cause in law,” Wanjigi stated.
“I believe that the party being sued has no proper justification for trying to detain me, link me in any way to the suspected discovered items, or even look for them on my property, and/or would rather bring criminal proceedings against me.”
