Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia was arrested by detectives on Monday morning at the Royal Media Services (RMS) headquarters in Nairobi after spending the night at the media house, where he had remained as police sought to take him into custody over alleged incitement.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested the lawmaker at the premises that house Citizen TV, ending an overnight standoff that had attracted several political leaders and members of the media. Authorities say the arrest is connected to remarks Kaguchia allegedly made during a public gathering in Kieni, Nyeri County, which investigators are examining for possible incitement.
Police had maintained a presence outside the Royal Media Services compound after the MP entered the premises on Sunday. Kaguchia remained inside overnight before detectives arrested him on Monday morning without any reported confrontation.
Speaking outside the media house before the arrest, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah criticized the operation and called on authorities to follow due process.
“If there are allegations against any leader, the law should take its course, but it must be done within the confines of the Constitution and the law,” Ichung’wah told journalists outside the Royal Media Services premises.
By the time of publication, the DCI had not publicly disclosed the specific statements under investigation or announced any formal charges against the MP. It also remained unclear whether he would be arraigned immediately or released pending further investigations.
The arrest follows an investigation into comments allegedly made by Kaguchia during a public meeting in Kieni. Under Kenyan law, allegations of incitement are investigated by the police and, where sufficient evidence exists, a case file is forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for a decision on whether criminal charges should be preferred.
The case has drawn political attention because of the circumstances surrounding the arrest, which took place at the premises of one of Kenya’s largest media houses after an overnight police operation. However, as of Monday morning, investigators had not released details of the evidence supporting the allegations, and no court documents outlining the intended charges had been made public.
Kaguchia, who represents Mukurwe-ini Constituency in the National Assembly, is expected to be processed by investigators before any decision on prosecution is made. His legal status will ultimately depend on whether prosecutors approve charges based on the evidence presented by detectives.