Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto. Photo/File
Georgina Mwikali and Wanderi Kamau
The sudden arrest of Juja MP George Koimburi on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, has raised questions on whether the government has embarked on politically ‘punishing’ close allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Koimburi was apprehended outside his residence on Kenyatta Road by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and whisked away to their headquarters on Kiambu Road for questioning.
Koimburi, a staunch critic of President William Ruto’s regime, had recently sparked controversy with his claims that the Kenyan government spent a staggering Ksh13 billion to campaign for Raila Odinga in the failed bid to secure the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
Subaru cars
The MP, speaking just before his arrest, revealed that two Subaru vehicles had been stationed outside his home, suggesting that his detention might not be entirely unexpected.
“I was just about to leave for Parliament when I saw them,” Koimburi said. “They didn’t even tell me why they were taking me in, but I was driven straight to the DCI headquarters.”
The arrest, which has set the political scene abuzz, comes just days after Raila’s loss to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Yousouff in the AUC race on Saturday, February 15.
Koimburi’s comments regarding the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds to back Raila’s bid for the chairmanship quickly went viral.
Raila’s AUC chairmanship bid
“Kenyans are worried after witnessing public funds being poorly utilised to bribe individuals to vote in Raila Odinga as the new chairman for the AU in Addis Ababa. It is such a shame,” the MP declared during a church service.
Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, a close Koimburi ally, was the first to break the news: “DCI at it again. They have arrested Juja MP George Koimburi. Reason? They have yet to say!”
“He wasn’t told why he was being detained. He didn’t even know if it was a legitimate arrest or an abduction,” Thang’wa added.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, who is representing Koimburi, confirmed the arrest, stressing that it was connected to the MP’s remarks about President William Ruto’s involvement in the AUC election.
“What’s wrong with calling him to account? Is it that the truth hurts?” Njiru posed, suggesting that the arrest might be a tactic to silence those who speak out against the government.
According to political analysts, Koimburi’s arrest reflects the government’s new bid in punishing politicians allied to Gachagua.
Besides Koimburi, Thang’wa had been summoned by the DCI to record a statement over the violence that took place at a burial in Limuru on 28 November last year.
Despite several summons, Thang’wa was never charged for any crime.
Waititu’s troubles
On Wednesday, 12 February 2025, former Kiambu governor, Ferdinard Waititu, was found guilty in a Sh588 million fraud case.
Waititu, a close Gachagua ally, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, or pay a fine of Sh53.5 million. Currently, he is fighting for his freedom from the prison walls.
Political analyst George Gachuiri believes that there could be a political hand in the new problems being faced by Gachagua-allied politicians.
“While some of these politicians had active cases in courts, the timing of their judgements is raising doubts. Clearly, there is a hidden political hand determined to punish them due to their political loyalty,” Gachuiri told Newsflash.
Ruto following Uhuru political script
Gachuiri, however, says that what is happening is not strange, as the same tribulations befell to Ruto allies in 2018-2022, after his bitter fallout with retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“In punishing Gachagua’s allies, Ruto is just following the Uhuru script. Uhuru ‘punished’ Ruto’s open supporters then like Gachagua and other ‘Tanga Tanga’ politicians by using the DCI and other state security machinery,” says Gachuiri.
Last week, Senators close to Gachagua were kicked out from various Senate committees. Some are Thang’wa, John Methu (Nyandarua)), John Kinyua (Laikipia) and Kamau Murango (Kirinyaga).
