A 44-year-old former Catholic priest has been arrested by detectives over allegations of publishing online content that authorities claim advocated the unlawful overthrow of the government.

According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday, June 1, detectives from the agency’s Operation Action Team (OAT) arrested Edwin Gathangi Waiguru in the Kirigiti area of Kiambu County following investigations into content posted on his Facebook page, “Kinta Kinte II.”

The DCI alleged that the publication contained plans calling for prolonged street demonstrations throughout June 2026, tax boycotts, targeted arson attacks on selected public and private properties, and the establishment of what investigators described as a parallel transitional administration.

“Acting on actionable intelligence, the sleuths quietly smoked out and apprehended the suspect from his hide out within the Kirigiti area of Kiambu County,” the DCI said in a statement.

Investigators further claimed that the online publication “went beyond the bounds of lawful political expression” and sought to incite actions aimed at destabilizing constitutional governance.

The arrest has drawn attention due to Waiguru’s religious background. The DCI said he is an ordained former Roman Catholic priest who later joined the Catholic Charismatic Church, a splinter group that allows clergy to marry.

Authorities added that despite leaving the Catholic Church, he reportedly continued to wear clerical attire and had recently been involved in church activities in Nairobi’s Riruta area.

Following his arrest, Waiguru was taken to DCI Headquarters and handed over to the Serious Crime Unit for further investigations.

He is expected to face charges under Section 40(1)(a)(iii) of the Penal Code, which criminalizes attempts to unlawfully overthrow a legitimate government.

“The content is currently undergoing detailed forensic and evidential analysis as part of ongoing investigations,” the DCI stated.

The agency reiterated that while freedom of expression is protected under the Constitution, it must be exercised within the law. “The law draws a clear distinction between lawful dissent and actions that advocate violence, destruction of property, or unconstitutional attempts to subvert established governance structures,” the statement read.

Waiguru’s arrest comes just days after the arrest of another suspect, David Onyango Elgon, alias MC Adek Tatu, in Mombasa County over alleged dissemination of inflammatory social media content.

The DCI warned that it would continue taking action against individuals found to be authoring, publishing, or distributing content that promotes violence or threatens public order.