DCI wants MPs Mwangi, Gakuya, 3 others charged over June anti-gov’t protests

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has recommended that five people be charged for their alleged role in planning, mobilising and financing June’s youth-led anti-government protests.

In a September 26 letter to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the investigative agency says it received intelligence reports linking MPs Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi (Embakasi Central) and James Mwangi Gakuya (Embakasi North), among others, to meetings that took place at Hotel Boulevard in the Nairobi city centre.

“The two members of parliament were summoned on 31st July 2024 and their statements were recorded. However, they declined to hand over their mobile phones for forensic examination,” DCI says.

DCI wants Mwangi, Gakuya, George Theuri (Embakasi West), Martin Deric Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri) and Pius G. Munene charged with conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to section 393 of the Penal Code.

Additionally, it wants Mwangi charged with soliciting or inciting others to commit an offence contrary to section 391 of the Penal Code, as well as money laundering contrary to sections 3, 4 and 7 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

DCI said efforts are made to obtain all financial data from the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), Safaricom and banks where the purported financial transactions were carried out.