DCI Raids Jimi Wanjigi’s Home on Saba Saba Anniversary

Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi accuses government of intimidation tactics as Kenya marks historic protest day

NAIROBI, Kenya – Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) conducted a raid on the residence of businessman and Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi on Monday morning, coinciding with Kenya’s observance of the 35th Saba Saba anniversary.

The dawn operation has reignited tensions between the opposition and President William Ruto’s administration, with Wanjigi characterizing the raid as part of a broader campaign to silence government critics through state intimidation.

“DCI at my home today Saba Saba! All this stupidity has to stop! Ruto must resign,” Wanjigi declared on social media platform X, adding that “All this intimidation shall not make you legitimate, the people ousted you long time ago!”

The timing of the raid carries particular significance, occurring on the same day Kenya commemorates the July 7, 1990 pro-democracy protests that challenged the country’s one-party system. Civil society organizations have drawn parallels between current government tactics and the authoritarian methods the original Saba Saba movement opposed.

The raid on Wanjigi’s home formed part of a wider security operation across major Kenyan cities, with authorities deploying heavy police presence to deter planned demonstrations. Despite official assurances that Nairobi’s Central Business District remained accessible, multiple reports indicated significant roadblocks and restrictions on movement.

Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli maintained that “everybody is getting into the CBD, everybody is going for duty as normal,” but journalist footage contradicted these claims, showing extensive police deployments along key arterial roads including Wayaki Way, Ngong Road, and the Thika Superhighway.

Human rights organizations have expressed alarm over what they describe as the increasing militarization of civic spaces and systematic suppression of peaceful assembly rights.

The government’s approach found support from some quarters, with Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei defending the security measures as necessary for maintaining order and protecting property. He dismissed contemporary protest movements as the work of “anarchists and political opportunists” engaging in “lawlessness, looting, maiming, killings, coup and economic sabotage.”

However, critics argue that such characterizations echo historical justifications used to suppress legitimate dissent during Kenya’s authoritarian past.

The incident underscores the growing polarization in Kenyan politics, with opposition figures increasingly claiming persecution while the government maintains it is upholding law and order. As Kenya grapples with these tensions, the legacy of Saba Saba continues to resonate in contemporary struggles over democratic space and accountability.

The DCI has not yet issued a statement regarding the specific grounds for the raid on Wanjigi’s residence, leaving questions about the operation’s legal basis and objectives unanswered.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​