Lewis Ngunyi: Arrest and detention of Nanyuki protester angers Kenyans online

Ngunyi was arrested on July 8 soon after presenting himself to the Nanyuki DCI officers. He had earlier shared several tweets which detailed the drama surrounding him and the DCI officers in Nanyuki who he claimed had, more than once, attempted to abduct him.

For instance, on July 7, Ngunyi shared that DCI officers had gone to the wrong home (that of his friend) mistaking it for his home. In the video attached, Ngunyi added that the officers interogated his friend's mother, who denied having a son named 'Lewis'.

"Okay, I may have jinxed things. Apparently, DCI officers in Nanyuki went to a friend's home yesterday (a case of mistaken identity I think) and were harassing his mum to produce me (she doesn't even know me). @DCI_Kenya if you want me, just summon me, I'll present myself!" he wrote.

Soon after the video went viral, Ngunyi took to his X account to once again share his tribulations, saying that the officers had not located his actual home and were 'disturbing' his apartment's caretaker, asking him to produce the protester.

"There are @DCI_Kenya officers at my door disturbing my caretaker to produce me. You couldn't have summoned me during the day? I am not in the house," he wrote.

Later, he updated his followers, saying that he was OK but that he would present himself at the Nanyuki DCI offices to know what crime he had committed.

"For those asking, yes I'm alright. In a safe location. I will present myself at Nanyuki Police Station tomorrow in the company of advocates so that @DCI_Kenya can tell me why they're looking for me," he wrote.

Things, however, turned ugly after he arrived at the offices - he would then be quickly arrested and attempts by a battery of lawyers dislocated by the Law Society of Kenya to see him were rebuffed. The lawyers also claimed to have been harassed and assaulted by the police based at the Nanyuki Police Station.

One lawyer, going by the username Mercy Legal Inc. wrote, "Imagine we’re still at the police station awaiting the police verdict over 4 hours later. Are they charging him of something? Are they not? We shall NOT allow impunity in this country. Our duty is to safeguard all peoples interest."

She added, "The advocates at Nanyuki waiting for the release of Lewis have been assaulted by the police in the Nanyuki Police station."

While also narrating the chain of events leading to the arrest and detention, Ngunyi's friend Rogers, explained how, after arriving at the police station, the protester was interrogated for four hours, later leading to fracas and confusion.

He wrote: "Upon presenting him, he was interrogated for 4 hours in the CCIO's office Nanyuki. Initially they interogated him without an advocate present. The intervention of other advocates and @LawSocietyofKe, one advocate was allowed in."

"He, very cooperatively, issued a witness statement on the events leading to the Nanyuki demonstrations.

After which the officers and the State Counsel known as Musau received orders from "above" to book and detain Lewis.

"However, the DCI and the State counsel initially refused to disclose the charges to all the advocates present which led to fracas at the police station resulting to some advocates getting assaulted by police, me included. Note that the fracas was instigated by the police.

"The state counsel later disclosed the charges levelled against Lewis and they include: arson, shop breaking and malicious damage to property. Tomorrow he will be presented before Nanyuki Law Courts at 9.00am."

After Ngunyi's case reverberated across the internet, Kenyans on X have now joined hands in agitating for his immediate release, some have already designed posters calling for his freedom.

"Ruto wants to negotiate with young Kenyans but his regime is still abducting, killing and detaining Kenyans illegally. How can we dialogue when the likes of Lewis Ngunyi still cannot find justice in their own land?" one Kenyan on X asked.

John Kiongo, on his part, said, "Coming back to this again. A reminder that Ngunyi's pinned tweet is literally a letter he submitted to the Nanyuki OCS outlining his intention to carry out a peaceful march within Nanyuki. We cannot allow these charges to stand. #FreeLewis!"

According to Mercy Legal Inc., Ngunyi was to be produced in court on Wednesday, July 10 at 9am. There are no updates yet on the developments on the matter.