Mukurwe-ini Residents Protest Arrest of MP John Kaguchia, Demand Unconditional Release

Mukurwe-ini Residents Protest Arrest of MP John Kaguchia, Demand Unconditional Release

NYERI COUNTY, Kenya – Hundreds of residents of Mukurwe-ini Constituency took to the streets on Monday to protest the arrest of their Member of Parliament, John Kaguchia, demanding his immediate and unconditional release following his dramatic arrest by detectives outside the Royal Media Services (RMS) headquarters in Nairobi.

The demonstrations, held in Gikondi Trading Centre, came just hours after the legislator was taken into custody by officers believed to be attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after spending the night inside the Royal Media Services compound.

Videos and photographs obtained from the protests showed large crowds carrying placards, waving tree branches and chanting slogans in support of the first-term legislator, while accusing authorities of targeting opposition leaders through politically motivated arrests.

The demonstrators called for all charges against the MP to be dropped, insisting that Kaguchia had committed no offence warranting the manner in which he was apprehended.

“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 declared as crowds cheered.

Despite the emotionally charged demonstrations, the protests remained peaceful throughout the day, with no reports of violence or destruction of property. Security officers were also notably absent from the protest route.

Kaguchia’s arrest followed an overnight standoff at the Royal Media Services headquarters after the legislator claimed that unidentified armed individuals had surrounded the media station shortly after he appeared on Inooro TV’s Kiririmbi programme on Sunday evening.

The MP had alleged through his social media platforms that heavily armed officers in unmarked vehicles erected roadblocks around the media house with the intention of arresting him.

Fearing for his safety, Kaguchia opted to remain inside the Royal Media Services premises throughout the night before detectives arrested him on Monday morning.

Following his arrest, uncertainty briefly surrounded his whereabouts after supporters and family members claimed they were unable to establish where he had been taken.

It was later confirmed that the legislator had been booked at Kamukunji Police Station in Nairobi.

His legal team subsequently confirmed that family members had been allowed to see him while in custody.

However, according to his lawyers, authorities had not immediately disclosed the specific reasons for his arrest or the exact charges he would face.

The MP’s legal counsel said preparations were underway to secure his release on bond pending his scheduled court appearance.

“Legal efforts are underway to secure Hon. Kaguchia’s release on bond ahead of his arraignment on August 4,”< members of his defence team said.

The arrest has also attracted strong reactions from political leaders allied to the United Opposition, particularly members of the Wiper Party and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

Opposition leaders questioned the circumstances surrounding the operation, expressing concern over reports that heavily armed officers dressed in civilian clothing remained stationed outside Royal Media Services throughout the night before the MP was taken into custody.

Former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua strongly criticised the operation, accusing the government of resorting to intimidation and unlawful arrests to silence political opponents.

In a statement shared on his social media platforms, Gachagua described the incident as a worrying sign of shrinking democratic space and compared it to tactics employed by governments seeking to suppress dissent.

“The overnight harassment and early morning arrest of Hon. John Kaguchia today only strengthen the resolve of our supporters and elevate his standing within our leadership hierarchy,” Gachagua stated.

The former Deputy President further alleged that the arrest reflected a broader pattern of using the criminal justice system to intimidate opposition figures ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Government agencies had not publicly responded to those allegations by the time of publication.

Kaguchia’s arrest follows controversy surrounding remarks he made during a political gathering in Kieni, Nyeri County, where critics accused him of making statements that could be interpreted as threatening political opponents ahead of the next general election.

His supporters, however, have maintained that his remarks were taken out of context and insist the investigations are politically motivated.

The legislator is expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday, August 4, where detectives are likely to outline the offences under investigation and seek further directions from the court.

As the legal process unfolds, political tensions are expected to remain high, with opposition leaders closely monitoring the case while supporters continue demanding the MP’s immediate release.

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Mukurwe-ini Residents Protest Arrest of MP John Kaguchia, Demand Unconditional Release