A late-night operation on June 30 targeting Peter Kinyanjui Kawanjiru, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) youth coordinator for Kiambu county, has sparked widespread public uproar and raised serious questions about due process and human rights in Kenya. Kawanjiru was reportedly abducted by armed men believed to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over alleged 'Wantam' remarks and accusations of funding disruptive protests.

His family recounted the shocking and tense events that unfolded at their private residence in Limuru. Around 8:30 PM, a group of uniformed officers arrived, identifying themselves as DCI personnel from Kiambu Road, and forcefully broke into the house. Kawanjiru’s wife, Catherine Wambui, described the officers’ aggression after she refused to open the door, stating, “They started banging on the door with heavy metal rods. I screamed, and a large crowd gathered outside.” A viral TikTok video captured the chaotic scene, showing neighbours screaming and witnessing the commotion at Kawanjiru's balcony as officers attempted to take him away.

Kawanjiru’s mother, Beatrice Wanjiru, expressed profound disbelief at the scale and conduct of the operation. She questioned the necessity of sending so many vehicles and officers for one person, revealing that the standoff lasted nearly four hours. As locals resisted the raid, additional officers and vehicles arrived. Witnesses reported that officers fired live rounds into the air to disperse the crowd before forcibly removing Kawanjiru. His mother added, “It was a terrible scene. They fired gunshots and used flashlights to collect everything, leaving no evidence behind.”

Since the incident, the family's attempts to locate Kawanjiru at various police stations have been in vain, leading them to believe his only offense was chanting the 'Wantam' slogan and suspecting political motivations behind his disappearance. Earlier reports suggest Kawanjiru was targeted over allegations of funding protests held on June 25, which turned chaotic and resulted in the burning of the Kikuyu Law Courts, several police stations, and other government facilities. Kawanjiru is also known as an ally of impeached former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, and the protests he allegedly funded resulted in the deaths of about 15 Kenyans.

The dramatic abduction of Peter Kawanjiru has drawn significant condemnation from various quarters. Former Laikipia Women Representative Cate Waruguru, via Facebook, demanded his immediate release, stating, “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.” Other Kenyans echoed these sentiments, questioning the reasons for the abduction and demanding arrests in broad daylight. This case has heightened public concern over the growing trend of excessive force, extrajudicial arrests, and enforced disappearances, particularly targeting individuals critical of the government. In a related incident, DCI director Amin Mohamed confirmed that IT expert and blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia was profiled and traced to his residence after allegedly posting an inflammatory message related to the June 25 protests, although he was not found at home.