A seasoned journalist, Zipporah Wambui based in Nairobi has taken legal steps at the High Court to protect herself from looming arrest after being publicly implicated in a case involving former cabinet secretary Raphael Tuju.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) named Wambui as a person of interest in connection with the alleged staged disappearance of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju, prompting her to seek urgent court intervention.
In a motion filed at the Milimani Law Courts, Wambui requested anticipatory bail along with orders to prevent the police from arresting or harassing her. Her lawyer Danstan Omari argued that the DCI’s public statement has jeopardized her personal safety, professional reputation, and constitutional freedoms.
Through her legal representative, Danstan Omari, the journalist stated that she was misidentified as being involved in orchestrating the alleged disappearance. She emphasized that she has no acquaintance with the other individuals mentioned in the investigations and asserts she has never had dealings with them. Her affidavit clarifies that her involvement in reporting on the matter was purely journalistic she only learned about the case through media outlets and colleagues.
However, Omari warned that this fight is not only about one journalist but the whole media industry. “They are targeting the media so that the media becomes the substitute of the problems that the government has put Raphael Tuju into. Equally, we are calling upon those who are the leadership of journalism in this country, the Kenya Union of Journalists, the Media Council, the Editors Guild, the media owners, all the journalists.
This is a call up that today Zipporah is being targeted. Any journalist is likely to face what Zipporah is facing today. So we are calling upon all sectors of the media industry to wake up and rally behind Zipporah because this is not a fight against Zipporah Wambui. This is a fight against the totality of the media fraternity in this country,” Omari stated.
Wambui explained that her role was limited to covering press briefings held in Karen, as part of her duties to report on a matter of public concern.
She stated that any interactions with individuals or sources related to the story were solely for reporting purposes. Wambui maintained that her conduct has been professional and lawful throughout. Trouble emerged on April 3 when the DCI, via its communications director, publicly identified her as a person of interest.
The statement labeled her as part of a team allegedly involved in coordinating the staged disappearance of Tuju, causing her to fear potential arrest or harassment despite denying any wrongdoing.
She added that attempts to seek clarification from the DCI about her identification have gone unanswered. With over 15 years of experience in journalism and accreditation from the Media Council of Kenya, Wambui asserts she is committed to cooperating with lawful investigations.
She is now seeking a court order for anticipatory bail set at KSh20,000 and to prevent the DCI and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from initiating any action against her without proper legal process.Her application underscores the importance of safeguarding her constitutional rights including her freedom of the media, personal liberty, and fair treatment.
She urges the court to intervene, arguing that her prosecution without due cause would violate her legal protections and undermine her professional integrity.
