Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia was taken into custody by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers on Monday morning at Royal Media Services (RMS) headquarters in Nairobi.
The arrest follows allegations that Kaguchia made inciteful remarks during a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County over the weekend. The legislator had spent the night at RMS after appearing on Inooro TV’s Kiririmbi show on Sunday evening.
Before his arrest, Kaguchia claimed that heavily armed men, some hooded and without police uniforms, had surrounded the media station intending to detain him. He described the security presence as an attempt to intimidate him but vowed to remain steadfast.
Speaking to Citizen TV earlier on Monday, Kaguchia denied that his statements were inflammatory, saying his comments had been distorted by government digital strategist Dennis Itumbi and some Mt Kenya region MPs to justify his arrest. He expressed willingness to cooperate with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) if summoned.
Regional DCI commander Daniel Kandie confirmed that Kaguchia was being taken to the Valley Road DCI offices for further questioning.
Controversial Remarks at Kieni Rally
During the rally, Kaguchia, speaking in his native language, appeared to warn residents against supporting President William Ruto in the 2027 general election, suggesting those who vote for the President would be "smoked out" from their homes. The comments attracted swift condemnation from political leaders and legal experts.
- Presidential Adviser Dennis Itumbi labeled the remarks undemocratic.
- Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi criticized the rhetoric as inappropriate for Kenya’s political landscape.
The incident has stirred debate on social media, with critics accusing the MP of promoting political intolerance, while some supporters argue the remarks were misinterpreted.
