Darwin Wangechi was among 150 protesters detained at Nanyuki Police Station during last year’s countrywide Saba Saba demonstrations. Also in custody was 31-year-old Julia Wangui. A few days later, Wangui was dead.

During her burial on August 4, 2025, Mr Wangechi made a chilling allegation: that a detective had assaulted her while they were in custody on the night of July 7.

Wangui had been arrested at Likii area after the protests turned chaotic. She was arraigned in court on July 8 and charged with malicious damage to property before being remanded at Nanyuki Women’s Prison, where she collapsed and died hours later.

Addressing mourners, Mr Wangechi claimed he witnessed the assault.

Read: Julia Wangui death: Family rejects autopsy report, accuse State of cover up

“She was standing outside when a detective confronted her and asked why she was not in the cell. Without provocation, he slapped her twice on the left cheek and ordered her to the women’s cell. She fell during the altercation, but he did not stop hitting her,” he said.

An autopsy later concluded that Julia died of natural causes; findings that the family disputed.

Julia Wangui who died after collapsing at the Nanyuki GK Prison. She had been charged over Saba Saba protests but failed to raise cash bail.

Photo credit: Pool

Since then, Mr Wangechi says, he has known no peace. Nearly a year later, the human rights activist working with the Nanyuki Community Justice Centre believes his decision to speak out placed him at the centre of what he describes as a pattern of intimidation.

His latest arrest, he says, came on March 27, when three plain-clothed police officers showed up near his home in Ichugu, Nanyuki.

“I had stepped out to take tea at a nearby hotel at around 7.30am when an officer approached me asking who I was,” he recalls.

Once they confirmed his identity, he says he was bundled into a waiting vehicle.

“When we arrived at Nanyuki Police Station, they told me I had been on their radar for publicly accusing officers on social media,” he said. After Julia’s burial, Mr Wangechi had posted details of the alleged assault on his Twitter account, including photos of the detective he accused.

Read: Demands for answers after Nanyuki woman arrested over Saba Saba protests dies in custody

Three days after his arrest on March 27, he was taken to court.

“I was surprised to find out that they had maliciously charged me with possession of narcotics, including 54 sachets of heroin,” he said. Court documents show he was charged with trafficking heroin valued at Sh16,200. He was granted a Sh50,000 bail. His family was unable to raise the bail, and he was remanded at Nanyuki Prison for three weeks before netizens and a human rights organisation finally came to his rescue on April 20.

Two weeks after his arraignment, he returned to court expecting the prosecution to proceed with the suit. Instead, he says, the investigating officer failed to present the police file and exhibits.

An online appeal started on April 19 on X raised Sh32,000 for his bail. A human rights organisation came to his aid and contributed the Sh50,000 required.

John Maigwa, a relative who led the fundraiser, says fear had hampered efforts to mobilise funds.

“I had initially tried engaging people in WhatsApp groups, but many feared intimidation because police officers are also in those groups,” he said.

Speaking to journalists after his release, Mr Wangechi linked his arrest to the events surrounding Julia’s death.

“At the station,the police told me that I was being taken to court because I posted information about who killed Julia,” he said. He also alleged intimidation, claiming a DCI officer had approached his friends and sent them to warn him.

His lawyer, Mr Mwangi Maingi, described the case as weak and procedurally flawed.

“The police file has not been availed before court as directed. This points to trumped-up charges meant to silence activists,” he said.

Mr Wangechi says a few days before the Saba Saba protests, he was detained for four days and charged with possession of four rolls of bhang. The case is still pending.

“And just like the heroin case, nearly a year later, the investigating officer has never presented the exhibits,” he says, with the matter adjourned several times.

Residents say such arrests are becoming common.

Lewis Ngunyi said he underwent a similar ordeal during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.

“What happened to Wangechi happened to me in June 2024,” he said.

He claimed that 106 people were detained last year, with 59 cases still ongoing.

“This year, they are not waiting for demonstrations. They are pre-empting and arresting people,” he said.

Laikipia County Criminal Investigations Officer Jacob Muchai declined to comment on the allegations made about his officers, saying the matter was before the court.

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memwende@ke.nationmedia.com