NAIROBI, Kenya – Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia was arrested on Monday and taken into police custody, triggering protests from opposition leaders and his legal team, who demanded that investigators disclose the reasons for his detention and uphold his constitutional rights.
The legislator was initially taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road before being transferred to Kamukunji Police Station, where opposition Members of Parliament and lawyers gathered seeking access to him.
Kaguchia was arrested shortly after leaving the Royal Media Services premises in Nairobi, where he had spent the night following an appearance on Inooro TV’s Kiririmbi programme.
His lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, said the MP’s phone had been confiscated and alleged that investigators had initially denied him access to his legal team and family members.
“We do not know the reason. He has been arrested. His phone has been confiscated. He has not been allowed to access any member of the family or the advocates,” Njiru told journalists outside the DCI headquarters.
By Monday afternoon, police had not publicly disclosed the offence for which the legislator had been arrested.
The arrest prompted a swift response from opposition leaders, who converged at the DCI headquarters demanding that detectives follow due process and either formally charge the MP or release him.
Among those present were Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui, Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo and several other lawmakers allied to the opposition.
Maanzo said investigators should process Kaguchia in accordance with the law if they believed he had committed an offence.
“If there are allegations against him, let the investigators process him in accordance with the law and arraign him before a competent court,” the senator said.
Mbui also insisted that the legislator should be granted immediate access to his lawyers, saying every Kenyan is entitled to legal representation regardless of political affiliation.
Outside Parliament, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the arrest, accusing the government of selectively applying the law against opposition figures while failing to take similar action against leaders aligned to the ruling administration.
“Justice in Kenya cannot depend on whether you are pro-government or in the opposition. If incitement is the standard, apply it to everyone. Selective justice is not justice,” Kalonzo said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also criticised the arrest, alleging that the government was using investigative agencies to suppress political dissent.
He argued that repeated arrests of opposition figures would not weaken the opposition but instead strengthen public support for its leaders.
The arrest follows the circulation of a video in which Kaguchia made controversial remarks during a recent public appearance, prompting debate over whether investigative agencies should take action against political leaders accused of making inflammatory statements.
However, by the time of publication, detectives had not publicly linked the arrest to any specific offence or announced whether the MP would be formally charged.
Kaguchia’s legal team said it was seeking his release on bond ahead of his anticipated court appearance.
