MP Junet Mohamed’s dramatic arrest after night long search

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed flanked by Kilifi Woman Represenative Aisha Jumwa and Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire (right) addresses the press in Nairobi on Monday. (Photo: David Gichuru/Standard)

Nairobi: Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was Tuesday morning arrested along Kimathi Street in a dramatic operation by Flying Squad after he had evaded them for the better part of the night.

Junet had been at a morning interview on NTV and was about to leave when he learnt that almost ten police officers were waiting for him outside Nation Centre.

He delayed his departure up to 9.30am when his lawyers James Orengo and Peter Kaluma arrived and as they walked out of the building, police officers who had been waiting for Junet surrounded them.  

The officers had earlier visited the Nation Centre seeking to arrest Junet in vain. The lawyers agreed to accompany Junet and the officers to Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters along Kiambu Road. But as they walked towards the parking lot, some officers blocked Junet’s car and attempted to lead him to their car.

A scuffle ensued as the officers tried, in vain, to snatch Junet to one of their four cars that were strategically parked.

Orengo and Kaluma fought back and ensured Junet was in the Siaya Senator’s car. The leader of the police team and head of Flying Squad Said Kiprotich pushed his way into Orengo’s car. The drama was caught on cameras as a crowd watched from a distance.

Along Kimathi Street, the BMW vehicle carrying Junet sped off towards DCI headquarters with police vehicles in pursuit.

Junet had earlier on said he was ready to report to DCI as requested but argued he had not been summoned by police as per the requirements.

He said he did not spend the night at his house after learning police were looking for him. Police said they last trailed Junet to Dennis Pritt Road at 1am on Tuesday where they lost him.

“He changed vehicles and vanished. When we learnt he was at NTV we had to come early for him,” said one officer.

Earlier on, armed police officers had visited the Nairobi home of Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama’s home in Runda in efforts to arrest him.