Residents of Mukurwe-ini constituency staged demonstrations on Monday demanding the release of their Member of Parliament, John Kaguchia, who was arrested earlier the same day in Nairobi.
The protests erupted shortly after Kaguchia was taken into custody outside Royal Media Services studios, where he had sought refuge overnight, citing fears of arrest by masked security personnel.
Protesters accused the government of selectively targeting leaders from the Mt Kenya region to intimidate voters ahead of the 2027 General Election. They described the case against Kaguchia as politically motivated and vowed to continue demonstrations until he was freed.
Some residents questioned the justification for Kaguchia's arrest over remarks made at a political rally, arguing that other government-aligned politicians had made more provocative statements without facing similar consequences.
Key points from the protests include:
- Claims that telling the government President William Ruto would not receive votes from Mt Kenya is not incitement.
- Accusations of selective enforcement of the law, citing examples of inflammatory language used by other leaders without arrests.
- Determination to resist intimidation and maintain independent political choices in the region.
Following his arrest, Kaguchia was taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for questioning over alleged inflammatory comments. His legal team, supported by political allies led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, sought to secure his release on bond, but he was expected to remain in custody overnight ahead of a planned court arraignment on Tuesday.
Kaguchia denied wrongdoing, stating his remarks were taken out of context and distorted on social media. He also noted that the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), which handles such matters, had not summoned him prior to the arrest.
