Civic activist and lawyer Shadrack Wambui has moved to the High Court in Nairobi seeking anticipatory bail, claiming state operatives are planning to arrest him in what he describes as a politically orchestrated move.

In an urgent application filed at the Kibera Law Courts, Wambui, through his lawyer Danstan Omari, argues that security agencies are targeting him over his involvement in a peaceful protest held in Ongata Rongai on June 25.

Wambui, who leads the grassroots movement Sheria Mtaani na Shadrack Wambui, alleges that his consistent advocacy on public interest issues has drawn the ire of powerful political interests aiming to stifle dissent.

“This is a deliberate attempt to harass and silence me,” reads part of the court filing, which also warns of a possible arrest on Friday a strategy he says is commonly used to detain individuals over the weekend without access to legal redress.

Wambui further claims to have received credible intelligence indicating that plans to apprehend him could escalate into physical harm.

According to his affidavit, the Rongai protest began peacefully but was disrupted by armed individuals allegedly hired by unnamed political actors. He says he narrowly escaped an attempted stabbing during the chaos.

The day after the protest, Wambui claims the area MP made remarks suggesting someone “from Mathare” was behind the unrest a statement he believes was a veiled reference to him.

Wambui is a known resident and activist from Mathare.

He contends that the comments, coupled with recent summons from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), point to a broader scheme to intimidate and unlawfully detain him.

“There’s a credible and immediate threat of arrest today, Friday, to block me from accessing the courts before the weekend,” he states in his affidavit.

Wambui is now urging the court to issue interim orders barring both the DCI and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from arresting or interfering with his freedom until the case is fully heard and determined.

His lawyer, Omari, has urged the court to prioritize the matter, warning that failure to act swiftly could expose his client to unlawful detention and possible harm.