By Andrew Kariuki

A Nairobi-based journalist has moved to the High Court seeking protection from arrest after being named by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) as a person of interest in the alleged staged disappearance of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju.

In an urgent application filed at the Milimani Law Courts, Zipporah Wambui is seeking anticipatory bail and orders restraining police from arresting or harassing her. She argues that the DCI’s public statement has exposed her to risk, jeopardising her liberty, safety and professional reputation.

Through her lawyer, Danstan Omari, Wambui told the court she was wrongly identified alongside three other individuals said to have been involved in planning and coordinating the alleged disappearance. She maintains she does not know the individuals named and has never had any dealings with them.

In a supporting affidavit, Wambui states that she only became aware of the alleged disappearance through media reports and communication with colleagues, as part of routine journalistic work. She explains that she later attended press briefings in Karen strictly in her capacity as a reporter covering a matter of public interest.

Any interaction she may have had with sources or individuals linked to the story, she argues, was solely for purposes of newsgathering.

According to court documents, the matter escalated on April 3 when the DCI, through its communications director, publicly listed her as a person of interest in what investigators described as a staged disappearance involving Tuju.

Wambui says the announcement triggered fear of imminent arrest or harassment, despite her insistence that she has committed no offence. She further claims that attempts to seek clarification from the DCI regarding her inclusion have not received any response.

The journalist, who has over 15 years of experience and is accredited by the Media Council of Kenya, describes herself as a law-abiding citizen willing to cooperate with lawful investigations.

In her application, she is seeking anticipatory bail of Ksh20,000 and court orders restraining the DCI and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from arresting, harassing or intimidating her without due process.

She argues that court intervention is necessary to safeguard her constitutional rights, including freedom of the media, personal liberty and the right to fair treatment under the law.