Drama as Heavily Armed Cops Surround Businessman Jimmy Wanjigi's Car in Nairobi

Drama unfolded on Wednesday afternoon after heavily armed police officers surrounded businessman Jimi Wanjigi's car in Nairobi in a bid to serve him with a court order.

In a video widely circulated on social media, the heavily armed security men stopped his navy blue Toyota V8 along Kipande Road, near Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, but the billionaire business mogul locked himself in and refused to come out.

The cops were later forced to pin the court order on his windscreen and left. The incident caused a traffic snarl-up along the road, with members of public gathering around to witness the drama.

The 11 plain-clothed officers are believed to be drawn from the Flying Squad unit.

The document pinned in the businessman's windscreen shows that Wanjigi is supposed to appear before a Nyeri magistrate to answer to criminal charges. The officers said they had orders to arrest and arraign him in the court.

Speaking to the media moments after the incident, Wanjigi, who has strong links with opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa), said President Kenyatta was behind his harassment and intimidation.

“The other day it was my passport, the time before that was gun revocation, and as I said before, this is becoming comical, another day it was an obituary. It is a persecution,” said Wanjigi.

“I would like to address my old friend, he was my friend until he burst the door of my house, President Uhuru Kenyatta you will not be legitimate by persecuting Kenyans… You will not become legitimate by persecuting me,” said an agitated Wanjigi.

“Legitimacy is gotten from the people of Kenya and you cannot force yourself on anybody. There is nothing any of us is doing that is against the law, we are exercising our democratic rights as enshrined in the constitution,” he added

He vowed not to honor the summon by the Nyeri court, saying: “I have anticipatory bail in two courts, why should you come for me in such a manner?”

Wanjigi’s lawyer, Willis Otieno said the incident was a violation of his client's rights.

“We believe this is continued harassment and intimidation meant to achieve a vindictive political agenda… The state is abusing the law to intimidate and harass its people,” said Otieno.

“Court summons are served at the residence or the workplace, not streets. They could have even served his known counsels, but to brandish guns on a busy highway in five cars and assault weapons shows how low we have come,” he added.