MUKURWE-INI, Kenya– Hundreds of residents of Mukurwe-ini Constituency on Monday staged peaceful demonstrations in Gikondi to protest the arrest of their Member of Parliament, John Kaguchia, demanding his unconditional release and the withdrawal of any charges against him.
The protests followed Kaguchia’s dramatic arrest outside the Royal Media Services (RMS) headquarters in Nairobi earlier in the day after he spent the night inside the media house.
Demonstrators carrying placards and tree twigs marched through Gikondi town chanting slogans in support of the legislator and condemning what they described as political intimidation.
“We are telling you, President William Ruto, you must release our MP unconditionally; this country belongs to all of us, and we are not going to be intimidated,” one protester said.
The demonstrations remained peaceful, with no reports of violence or confrontation. Security officers were not visibly deployed at the protest scene.
Kaguchia was arrested on Monday morning by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after leaving the Royal Media Services premises, where he had remained overnight following claims that armed officers had surrounded the station.
For several hours after the arrest, the legislator’s whereabouts were unclear before it was later confirmed that he had been taken to Kamukunji Police Station.
His legal team said authorities had not disclosed the specific reasons for his arrest, although family members were later allowed to visit him in custody as they awaited further communication from investigators.
The arrest is linked to investigations into remarks the MP allegedly made during a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County, over the weekend. Authorities are yet to formally announce any charges.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest have drawn criticism from opposition leaders, particularly those affiliated with the Wiper Party and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), who questioned the deployment of heavily armed, plain-clothes officers outside the media house.
Former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua condemned the arrest, accusing President William Ruto’s administration of using security agencies to suppress political dissent.
In a statement on social media, Gachagua described the incident as unfortunate and alleged that the government was resorting to tactics associated with “outgoing, cowardly regimes” by using the criminal justice system against political opponents.
The DCI has not issued a detailed statement explaining the circumstances of Kaguchia’s arrest or indicating when he is expected to be arraigned in court.
His lawyers say they are pursuing legal avenues to establish the basis of the arrest and secure his release, while supporters continue to call for transparency and due process.
