This archive report was first published on 20 July 2020.
On Saturday night, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja managed to evade arrest by taking refuge at the home of a senior civil servant in Karen, Nairobi. The senator was being sought by police to record a statement regarding claims of incitement and breaking curfew.
According to reports, Sakaja was granted police bond on Saturday morning and was expected to return to the Kilimani Police Station for processing ahead of arraignment. However, when he failed to show up, police tried to contact him, but his phone was switched off.
Detectives visited his house along Dennis Pritt Road, where they found his car parked and his mobile phone in the house. It appeared that Sakaja had been whisked away to safety. Police camped at the senator's house until late in the evening as they pursued other means of tracking him.
Sources revealed that when the top government official realized police were closing in on his home, he ordered them to stand down until the next day. However, the officers insisted that the senator should go to the station and complete the process of his release.
Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo stated that Sakaja was supposed to record a statement regarding the incident at Ladies' Lounge in Kilimani. 'He agreed to come back and complete this process, but now he cannot be reached. We still want him here,' Ndolo said.
Lawyer Cliff Ombeta, who was representing two employees of Ladies' Lounge, expressed concern that Sakaja's disappearance was causing delays in the release of the two women who were being held by police. 'The senator has gone missing. He is required to report back at the station to be processed for court. Other innocent persons have been arrested as collateral so that he appears,' Ombeta said.
It is worth noting that Sakaja was arrested at a bar after a confrontation with police who had been called following complaints that there were revellers inside the premises after curfew hours. He was also accused of inciting some of those present to defy police orders to leave the bar.
On July 20, 2020, the countrywide curfew was extended, but the hours changed to 9pm-4am in efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic. Bars were also restricted from operating. Police said they got a tip-off that a bar was still operating at around 1.10am, leading to Sakaja's arrest.
