Kiambu's First Lady Susan Ndung'u joins five prominent Kenyan female leaders with arrest records
Ms. Waititu is, however, not the first high profile female leader to have been arrested, she joins a number of prominent female leaders who have been guests of the state at one point.
The wife of Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was arrested by Nairobi City County government officers for erecting a storey building without the requisite approvals.
The other suspects include owners of Jamii Bora building on Koinange Street in the capital's central business district and Delta Hotel.
They were taken to cells at City Hall where they spent some hours before Governor Mike Sonko, a close ally of Mr Waititu, intervened and ordered her release.
She was released after posting a Sh80, 000 cash bail.
Aisha Jumwa
The vocal Member of Parliament for Malindi knows too well how a police cell looks and feels like.
IN June 2016, Hon. Aisha Jumwa was arrested and spent four days in police custody over hate speech incitement remarks.
At the Muthaiga police station, she lamented after being released, saying.
“Though there was water and we could clean ourselves, no human being should be subjected to such treatment. The situation was inhumane and is not even fit for criminals. We were not allowed to change our clothes. Imagine a woman staying in the same clothes for four days. Visits by relatives and friends were denied,"
She promised to go back to Muthaiga police station.
"Most of our relatives came but they were not allowed to see us. Only my son and CORD co-principals were allowed to see us once. I will go back to Muthaiga and pay for the refurbishment of the floor of the cell where I spent three days, so that the next ‘guests’ can stay in a dignified place,”
Florence Mutua
Busia Woman Representative, Florence Mutua spent four days in police custody together with her Kilifi counterpart then, Aisha Jumwa in 2016 for hate speech charges.
“It was a nightmare and inhumane. We were rushed to court under unclear allegations. That was the beginning of four agonising days in the cells. We arrived at the Muthaiga Police Station at 9pm. It was dark and scary. We did not know where we were being taken… our cell was next to men’s cell which was packed with many petty offenders like touts and drunkards. In as much as the station has kept some hygiene standard, it needs a coat of paint and the toilets need thorough cleaning,” she said upon her release.
Margaret wanjiru
On April 2017, Bishop Margaret Wanjiru was arrested after she allegedly stormed the City Park polling station and destroyed ballot papers.
The former Starehe MP was charged with causing malicious damage to property and creating disturbance before a Nairobi Magistrate Court and as a result, spent five days behind bars.
Other prominent female leaders who have had a brush with the law are Sonia Birdi, Kenya’s first Asian-Kenyan woman lawmaker to serve in the national legislature and Former Runyenjes MP, Cecily Mbarire,
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