The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has filed an application in court, seeking to continue holding Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji, Inooro Radio journalist James Mbochi, and boda boda rider Stanley Mbuthi for an additional 14 days to complete investigations.

The trio are under probe for allegedly recruiting goons and financing violent groups during the July 7, 2025 Saba Saba protests.

Appearing before Magistrate Richard Koech at Kahawa Law Courts, state prosecutor James Machira argued that releasing the three could jeopardize ongoing investigations. 

“The suspects were arrested while in possession of materials indicating financial facilitation of individuals involved in criminal activities across Nairobi, Embu, and other parts of Central Kenya,” Machira told the court.

Prosecution claims that MP Mukunji was found with a diary book marked “KYPA” containing names and amounts paid to various persons connected to an array of criminal activities in Nairobi, Embu, and various parts of the central region between June 25, 2025, and July 7, 2025.

“The MP was transferring money to individuals linked to various criminal activities, including but not limited to arson, malicious damage to property, assault on police officers and civilians, and an incident that resulted in the death of one civilian,” Machira told the court.

The trio was arrested at Toll area in Juja aboard a black Range Rover with no number plates, a deliberate act, the DCI says was designed to conceal their identities and movement in connection to coordinated criminal activities in violation of Section 12 of the Traffic Act.

“All the respondents( MP Mukunji, Mbochi, and Mbuthi) were arrested on July 7, 2025, during the protests dubbed ‘Saba Saba’. At the time of their arrest, MP and the Journalist were aboard a black Range Rover Sport with no registration plates, driven by Mukunji in contravention of Section 12 of the Traffic Act, Cap 403, Laws of Kenya,” the court heard.

According to the DCI, Mbuthi was seen demanding payment from MP Mukunji, allegedly after participating in unlawful acts during the Saba Saba protests. 

They further allege that the journalist, James Mbochi, was accompanying the MP in a non-reporting capacity, raising suspicion about his involvement.

But the defence, led by Senior Counsel Kalonzo Musyoka and advocate Ndegwa Njiru, fiercely opposed the application, terming the allegations as “wild, speculative, and politically motivated.”

“My client is a serving MP, a known public figure with a permanent residence and a fixed place of work. He is not a flight risk,” Kalonzo argued. 

“More importantly, detectives have failed to comply with a court order directing that the accused be escorted to hospital for medical attention. The MP is unwell.”

Kalonzo claimed the continued detention was not only unjustified but amounted to persecution.