Major Highway Closed As Protests Erupt In Embu After Saba Saba Day
The unrest has caused major traffic disruptions, and motorists are being urged to steer clear of the area as tensions escalate.
Marvin Chege 
The Embu–Nairobi Highway was closed on Tuesday, July 8, after demonstrations broke out in Embu town following the arrest of Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji on July 7 over the Saba Saba day violence.
Demonstrators are calling for the release of Mukunji. The unrest has caused major traffic disruptions, and motorists are being urged to steer clear of the area as tensions escalate.
In images seen by Viral Tea, residents barricaded the Embu-Kianjokoma road with stones and set tyres on fire, bringing transport along the route to a standstill.
Embu-Nairobi Highway blocked by protestors on Tuesday, July 8. /PEOPLE DAILY
Mukunji was arrested at 3 p.m. on Monday amid protests, accused of inciting violence during the demonstrations. Police were deployed to the area in an attempt to restore order as the protests became increasingly chaotic.
Reports indicate that residents began demonstrating on Monday night, calling for the immediate release of the MP.
His lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, stated that the MP was arrested around 3 p.m. and officially booked at Kibii Police Station by 3:53 p.m. Mukunji was reportedly later picked up by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based at Juja Police Station.
He was briefly detained solely for what Njiru described as “the exclusive purpose of holding him” before being moved to an unknown location.
“The OCS has confirmed that he has been picked up by the DCI Juja Police Station. His car is currently parked at Kibii Police Station. His whereabouts are not known," Ndegwa said in a statement.
"The OCS has confirmed that he only booked him for the exclusive purpose of holding him. As I update this, I am in the company of his spouse. The police have withheld any useful information from his spouse and the advocates acting in the matter."
On July 8, the lawyer disclosed that the MP was set to face terrorism-related charges, reportedly linked to the protests, with the case currently before the Kahawa Law Courts.
"Hon Mukunji is currently at Kahawa Law Courts. He is expected to face charges of terrorism. I am briefed that the police officers are planning to plant drugs and explosives in his car that is currently parked at Kibii Police station,” Njiru further noted.
The National Police Service (NPS) in a statement on Monday had confirmed that Mukunji was among 567 suspects arrested during the Saba Saba protests.
The arrest comes roughly two weeks after Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire publicly criticised Mukunji, accusing him of working closely with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
