A journalist has moved to the High Court seeking anticipatory bail and protection from arrest after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) publicly named her as a person of interest in the alleged staged disappearance of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju.
In an urgent application filed at the Milimani High Court, Zipporah Wambui says the police statement has put her liberty, safety and professional reputation at risk despite her having no involvement in the alleged incident.
Through lawyer Danstan Omari, the journalist argues that the DCI’s public communication identified her alongside three other individuals as persons allegedly involved in planning and coordinating the purported disappearance. She maintains that she does not know the other individuals mentioned in the statement and has never had dealings with them.
Wambui told the court that she only learnt about the alleged disappearance through media reports and messages from colleagues, like any other journalist covering a developing story.
According to her affidavit, she later attended press conferences in Karen where the matter was being discussed in her capacity as a reporter covering a story of public interest.
She says her interactions with sources and individuals linked to the story were purely part of lawful journalistic work and were aimed at gathering information related to the unfolding developments.
However, on April 3, the DCI issued a statement through its communications director John Marete claiming that she and three others were persons of interest in what investigators described as a staged disappearance involving Tuju.
The journalist says the announcement created fear that she could be arrested or harassed despite having committed no offence. She further states that she contacted the DCI communications director seeking clarification on why her name had been included in the statement, but no explanation has been given.
Wambui, who says she has worked as a journalist for more than 15 years and is accredited by the Media Council of Kenya, insists she is a law-abiding citizen willing to cooperate with lawful investigations if required.
In the court application, she is asking the High Court to grant her anticipatory bail of KSh20,000 and issue orders restraining the DCI and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from harassing or intimidating her without following due process.
She argues that the orders are necessary to protect her constitutional rights, including freedom of the media and the right to liberty and fair treatment under the law.
