Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia has explained why he spent the night inside the Royal Media Services (RMS) premises before he was arrested on Monday morning and taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for questioning.
The legislator said he remained inside the media house after learning that armed, hooded and masked men were stationed outside, claiming the circumstances surrounding the planned arrest raised concerns about his personal safety.
Kaguchia, who was later arrested outside the Royal Media Services studios, said he had no objection to cooperating with investigators but insisted that any arrest should follow constitutional and legal procedures.
“The constitutional way of being arrested in Kenya is being summoned and arrested by uniformed policemen and that must also be done under clear circumstances,” he said.
“An arrest which is done by hooded, masked armed men- more than 40 of them, more than 15 Subarus and double cabs- and then this is being executed at night is definitely something which is suspect.”
The MP said the situation was particularly worrying given recent reports of alleged abductions and enforced disappearances in the country.
ALSO READ:
- NTSA Intensifies Crackdown on Pedestrians Avoiding Footbridges in Nairobi
- Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia Arrested by DCI After Night at Royal Media Offices
“Considering that we are in this country where we have abductions and forced disappearances, you would expected that I would definitely be alarmed and that’s why I refused to walk into that trap and I have stayed here overnight,” he said.
“They continue building that contingent.”
Kaguchia maintained that he is a law-abiding citizen and is willing to appear before any lawful authority if required.
“If there’s anything that government has on me, I’m not fearful of presenting myself to authorities to answer any question that might be on me in whichever way but not through unprocedural means,” he stated.
The MP linked the arrest to remarks he made during a political rally on Saturday, saying they had been portrayed as inflammatory.
“I saw a post yesterday (Sunday) by the government structures and machinery on my political utterances that I did on Saturday in one of the political rallies, which I saw were being pushed as being inflammatory,” he said.
Kaguchia argued that complaints relating to hate speech or inflammatory remarks fall under the mandate of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), adding that he had not received any summons from the commission.
“That’s an issue that falls under the purview of the NCIC as a commission and that’s an independent commission. I have not received any summons from them. All I have seen is social media posts which of course were also twisted.”
He further claimed that the social media posts circulating online had misrepresented his remarks.
Asked who was behind the posts, the legislator responded:
“Social media posts from Itumbi and some of the other government-leaning MPs, particularly from Nyeri and Mt. Kenya region.”
Kaguchia reiterated that he was prepared to cooperate with the NCIC or any other lawful authority if formally summoned.
“But as you can see, they are here and they are looking for me,” he said.
“The I only thing that I can confirm is that I’m not going to present myself to these hooded men. If an arrest has to be done, or if in any way, I’m required by the authorities, let this be done under clear circumstances, in a legal manner that’s clearly understandable to all so that if it’s going to court, then I can be presented to a court of law then I will have my day in court.”
The MP was later arrested outside the Royal Media Services studios after a senior police officer reportedly went to the station and requested that he be produced.
He was subsequently escorted to the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road for questioning over remarks he allegedly made during a political rally, as investigations continue.
