Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.

Peter Kawanjiru, the Youth Coordinator for the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has reportedly been abducted under unclear circumstances, sparking national outrage and calls for accountability.

The alleged abduction took place on the night of Monday, June 30, when over 10 vehicles, mostly Subaru models believed to belong to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), surrounded his residence in Limuru.

Witnesses reported a power blackout affecting the entire building, followed by gunshots that sent residents into panic.

A group of concerned youths gathered outside the residence, pleading with the officers to halt their operation.

Kawanjiru, a known ally of impeached former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, is allegedly wanted in connection with the June 25 memorial protests that descended into chaos.

He is accused of financing acts of vandalism and destruction of property in Kiambu and Nairobi, where several government installations—including the Kikuyu Law Courts and multiple police stations—were torched.

The protests turned deadly, with several fatalities reported and over 400 people, including both demonstrators and police, sustaining injuries.

The incident has fueled political tension, particularly among opposition leaders, who are condemning what they describe as a growing trend of politically motivated abductions.

Politician Cate Waruguru decried the incident as a violation of human rights and a symbol of rising authoritarianism, demanding Kawanjiru's immediate release and accountability for those behind the operation.

"Free Peter Kawanjiru, abducted yesterday in yet another blatant attack on human rights. Where are we heading as a country when voices are silenced through fear, not reason? This is not leadership, it’s dictatorship. Abductions must end. Oppression must end. We demand justice, accountability, and the immediate release of all those unlawfully detained," she stated.

Kawanjiru’s disappearance follows increasing pressure on Gachagua, whom Kenya Kwanza leaders have blamed for orchestrating the unrest.

This is despite Gachagua having earlier urged Kenyans to avoid the protests, claiming he had intelligence that President William Ruto and Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja had allegedly hired armed goons to target civilians on that day.

Since his impeachment, Gachagua has become one of Ruto’s fiercest critics, positioning himself as a vocal advocate for limiting Ruto’s presidency to a single term.

Meanwhile, DCI Director Amin Mohamed dismissed reports of a targeted manhunt against Gachagua, asserting that any individual found culpable of criminal activities—regardless of political affiliation—would be subject to the law.

More to follow...

Source: TUKO.co.ke