Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji granted Ksh.1M anticipatory bail over Embu chaos

Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court in Embu, blocking his arrest until he appears before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

In a ruling delivered on September 15, 2026, Justice Magare Dennis Kizito Ngwono certified as urgent the MP's application against the Inspector General of Police in case number HCCRMISCAPPL/E043/2026.

The judge directed that the application be served on all respondents by close of business on September 16, and that the respondents file their response by September 23.

In the meantime, the court ordered that if arrested, the MP be released on anticipatory bail of Ksh.1 million bond, with an alternative of Ksh.500,000 cash bail.

The bond is to be executed or the cash bail deposited in court by close of business on September 17, failure to which the orders will lapse.

The anticipatory bail was granted on condition that Mukunji reports to the DCI Headquarters in Nairobi on September 21, and on any other Monday that the DCI shall indicate he will be required.

The court clarified that the orders do not bar police from investigating and charging the applicant. The matter will come up for directions on September 29 before the trial court in Embu.

The court also issued a penal notice warning that any disobedience or non-observance of the order will result in penal consequences.

Lawyers acting for MP Mukunji earlier wrote to the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), demanding an impartial probe into last weekend's deadly violence at Nembure Ground.

The lawyers also accused the state of sending contradictory signals over whether their client is a suspect.

In a letter dated September 15, 2026, the law firm Ndegwa and Ndegwa Associates said Mukunji learnt through a statement by Government Spokesperson Charles Owino, aired on Citizen Television, that police were allegedly pursuing him over the Nembure violence. 

According to the law firm, the position the firm says contradicted earlier indications from the police that he was not under investigation.

"Our client is therefore left in a state of complete and justified bewilderment as to which of the two conflicting positions is the official and truthful stance of the state," the lawyers wrote.

The violence broke out on Saturday, September 12, during a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) delegates' meeting at Nembure Grounds in Embu County, presided over by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and attended by Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and other senior leaders.