On Saturday, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kiambu County came under fire after they reportedly arrested the wrong person over the June 25 protests.
According to neighbors and several Kenyans online, the woman arrested had no role in the demonstrations that happened in the area.
One of the neighbors said that a lady named Mariam Njeri was taken away by DCI officers early in the morning from her rental house in Kikuyu.
“The officers said she was among those who destroyed government property, including burning down the law courts,” the neighbor said. “They didn’t listen to us when we tried to explain that she was not even there.”
Another neighbor added that they were shocked by the arrest because Njeri was actually at work the whole day during the protest.
“She is a quiet woman and she has never been seen in any protest. I couldn’t believe it when I heard the DCI accusing her like that,” the neighbor added.
The neighbors said they later went to the police station where Njeri was being held to demand her release. However, the DCI officers insisted that she must be taken to court on Monday.
This comes after the Head of State, President William Ruto, ordered the police to arrest anyone involved in destroying property or causing chaos during the June 25 protests.
“We will not allow criminals to hide behind peaceful protests,” Ruto had said earlier in the week.