Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka on Monday, August 3, condemned the aggressive arrest of Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia, warning against escalating political intolerance in the country. The ordeal culminated in Kaguchia’s arrest outside the Citizen TV studios, following an overnight siege by security personnel.
The drama unfolded after Kaguchia addressed a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County, where he made controversial remarks in Kikuyu warning Mount Kenya residents against re-electing President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election utterances that drew widespread backlash.
According to Senator Onyonka, approximately 40-armed police officers and nearly 10 Subaru vehicles surrounded the media station, forcing the lawmaker to spend the night inside the studio premises.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Onyonka emphasized that while he does not defend Kaguchia’s statements, the state’s heavy-handed response was completely unwarranted for a sitting Member of Parliament who posed no flight risk.
The Senator warned that executing arrests outside media houses undermines democratic space and creates a dangerous precedent. He stressed that authorities must respect due process rather than instilling fear in public officials and guest speakers appearing for television interviews, noting that formal notifications or summonses via the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) should take precedence over public intimidation.
MP Kaguchia is currently being held at the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road as investigations continue.
