The Member of Parliament (MP) for Naivasha, Jane Kihara, on Thursday morning found herself in fresh controversy after auctioneers, accompanied by armed police officers, raided her rural home in Maraigushu, Naivasha, and seized a vehicle and more than 100 goats and sheep.
The seizure is linked to a Sh7.5 million court award arising from a 2008 election petition filed against former Naivasha MP John Mututho which she lost after the court ruled in favour of Mututho.
According to Kihara, the auctioneers arrived at her residence at dawn, enforcing a court order related to the long-running dispute and carted away one of her personal vehicles and 127 goats and sheep, which she said belonged to her son.
She said the area OCS called to inform her that he was under pressure to enforce the order but argued that she should be present when the order is being executed.
“All the livestock taken belong to my son, and some were stolen during the raid by hired youths who accompanied the auctioneers,” an emotional Kihara narrated.
Last year, High Court Justice Julius Nangea sitting in Nakuru allowed Mututho to seek an auctioneer’s hammer and gain entry to the MPs home in Maraigushu area and execute the order to recoup the defaulted cost settlement.
The MP who has since broken ties with the government said she has already lodged an appeal but noted that her prayers to the court for stay orders to stop the execution of the court order were dismissed.
The legislator claimed the move was politically motivated, accusing the government of intimidation following her recent criticism of President William Ruto’s administration.
Earlier this week, Kihara publicly alleged that a section of Kenya Railways land in Naivasha had been irregularly acquired for a mall construction by individuals close to the President.
Local leaders, including Nakuru Members of County Assembly (MCAs), visited the MP to express solidarity, denouncing the operation as inhumane and disrespectful of Kikuyu cultural values, which traditionally regard livestock as a sacred family asset.
Naivasha East MCA Stanley Karanja criticised Mututho, noting that in Kikuyu tradition and customs, livestock should never be auctioned and the latest move aims to humiliate the vocal MP.
His Lakeview counterpart Alex Mbugua questioned how the auctioneers obtained a court order while an appeal case was reportedly pending before the Court of Appeal.
“This is yet another example of government impunity and we will continue to stand with our MP as she faces intimidation from State agencies,” Mbugua added.
Molo Town MCA Joseph Ngware urged Kihara to remain steadfast, describing the raid as part of a wider pattern of political harassment targeting dissenting voices.
The dispute between Kihara and Mututho dates back to the 2007 General Election, when Kihara unsuccessfully challenged Mututho victory in court and was ordered to pay part of the petition and legal costs amounting to Sh7.5 million.
However, enforcement of the award has remained contentious, with Kihara maintaining that an appeal against the decision was still active.
This latest development comes barely a month after anti-riot police disrupted a meeting at Kihara’s residence, citing security concerns, an event the MP’s allies viewed as part of an ongoing standoff between her and the government.
By Erastus Gichohi
