Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara Shares Harrowing Experience After Night in Police Custody

By Juliet Jerotich

Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara has opened up about her recent arrest and the night she spent in a police cell, describing it as a distressing and politically charged ordeal. During a candid interview on K24 TV, Kihara recounted her experience, calling it her first encounter with the criminal justice system in such a personal and unsettling manner.

The MP narrated that after being apprehended at her residence, she was taken into custody and confined alone in a bare cell with no seat or basic comforts. While she attempted to lighten the conversation by joking that she was “the only criminal in that cell,” Kihara was firm in expressing her belief that the arrest had little to do with legal violations and everything to do with political motivations.

“I had no place to sit; I was alone in that cell. It wasn’t just an arrest—it was political intimidation,” she stated, adding that her political views may have placed her in the crosshairs of those unwilling to tolerate dissent.

Although she refrained from revealing the exact circumstances that led to her arrest or naming individuals she holds responsible, Kihara hinted at growing repression and a shrinking space for differing opinions within the current government.

When asked whether the experience had caused her to reconsider her political alliances, the legislator expressed both disappointment and resolve. While acknowledging that she had been let down by the administration she once backed, she maintained that her decision during the 2022 general election was based on the best judgment available at the time.

“I wasn't afraid—just deeply upset—because there was absolutely no justification for what happened. Do I regret supporting this government? Not really. I made a decision based on the available options. But I am disappointed. The leadership I supported hasn’t delivered on what I hoped for,” Kihara remarked.

She stressed that her experience highlighted a troubling shift in the political climate—one where leaders critical of the system risk unwarranted harassment.

The Naivasha MP’s account has sparked concern among her supporters and some civil society actors who see her arrest as part of a wider trend of suppressing dissenting voices within the government. As debate over freedom of expression and political tolerance continues to grow, Kihara’s experience adds another voice to the growing chorus calling for greater transparency and justice in governance.