Two sets of demonstrations were today held in Karatina, Marua, Kiamariga and Kangocho areas moments after officers from the Directorate of criminal investigations arrested Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua in his rural home.
The officers raided Gachagua home at Iruri village in the wee hours and bundled him in their vehicle and ferried him to Nairobi.
In the first demonstration at Marua village, angry supporters blocked Nyeri Nairobi road terming the arrest as political due to Jubilee defeat at Kiambaa by-elections.
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"We know our MP has been arrested due to his political stand and not because of corruption as it is claimed. We are demanding for his immediate release as he is innocent." said one of his supporters.
Police officers had a hard time restoring normalcy in the busy highway and could be seen clearing burning tyres.
Similar demonstrations were held at Kiamariga and Kangocho villages with residents crying foul over the arrest.
However, in an about-turn of the events, a section of residents demonstrated in Karatina town supporting the arrest of the legislator.
Those interviewed said that Rigathi should carry his own cross since his act of corruption was his own making and not that of Mathira people.
They said that President Uhuru Kenyatta is on record saying that he intends to weed out corruption and so his arrest was in order.
"The president is on record cautioning those involved in corruption that they would be arrested and the legislator has been daring the officers to arrest him and now they have done it. What is all the hullabaloo about? let him carry his own cross." Johnson Njogu a businessman in Karatina said."
DCI is on record saying that they are investigating
Rigathi on suspected 12 billion money laundering crime.
Earlier after his arrest, Rigathi wrote on his Facebook page that his arrest was political and that his arrest was as a result of his participation in the just concluded Kiambaa by-election.
"I am happy I now have a chance to be vindicated in a court of law as our courts are independent. To our tormentors and persecutors, you only have one year remaining. We shall have a new democratic Government that does not use the criminal justice system to manage politics.
I appreciate, it is their bitterness with the loss of the Kiambaa by-election,” he posted.
