Kenya ex-interior minister seeks to block detention

Kenya’s former interior minister Fred Matiang’i has sought anticipatory bail, saying he fears he could be arrested and arraigned in court for political reasons.

His lawyer filed an application at a high court in the capital, Nairobi, seeking to bar the police from arresting or harassing the former minister.

The court has not ruled on the request.

It comes as police denied a reported security operation at the ex-minister’s home on Wednesday night.

Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome said the police force had not deployed any officer to the home of the former minister.

But Mr Matiang’i’s family said that a group of men who declined to identify themselves arrived at their home on Wednesday night and did not explain their mission.

The family says they pressed the men to identify themselves and produce a summon or search warrant which they failed to.

They say the men took off shortly after the family lawyers and media arrived at the home.