The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia has opened up about why he chose to spend the night inside Royal Media Services premises before being arrested on Monday morning and taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for questioning.
According to the legislator, he opted not to leave the media house after learning that armed men, some hooded and masked, were stationed outside waiting to arrest him. He said the manner in which the operation was being carried out raised serious concerns for his personal safety.
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Kaguchia was eventually arrested outside the Royal Media Services studios after having sought refuge inside the premises overnight, following the arrival of security officers at the scene.
Speaking to journalists while still inside the building before his arrest, the MP said he had no objection to being questioned by authorities but insisted that any arrest be carried out lawfully. He argued that the constitutionally recognized method of arrest in Kenya involves being summoned and taken into custody by uniformed police officers under clear and transparent circumstances.
He described the attempted arrest — allegedly involving more than 40 armed, hooded and masked men along with over 15 Subarus and double-cab vehicles, conducted at night — as highly suspicious.
Kaguchia said the situation was especially alarming in light of recent reports of abductions and enforced disappearances in the country, explaining that this context justified his decision to avoid what he described as a trap and instead remain inside the media house overnight, even as the number of security personnel outside continued to grow.
He maintained that he remains a law-abiding citizen willing to cooperate with investigators, provided the process follows proper legal procedure, saying he was not afraid to answer any questions the government might have, so long as it was done through the right channels.
Asked about the possible reason security agencies were pursuing him, Kaguchia linked it to comments he made during a political rally on Saturday, which he said had been characterized as inflammatory. He said he had seen a post from government-aligned sources on Sunday portraying his remarks in that light.
The MP argued that any allegations of hate speech or inflammatory remarks fall under the mandate of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), noting that he had not received any formal summons from the commission — only social media posts, which he claimed had distorted what he actually said.
When asked who he believed was behind the circulating posts, Kaguchia pointed to social media activity from blogger Dennis Itumbi and several government-leaning MPs, particularly those from Nyeri and the broader Mt Kenya region.
He reiterated that he would have no issue appearing before the NCIC if formally summoned, adding that he had not received any official communication regarding either the alleged remarks or plans for his arrest, despite the visible presence of security personnel searching for him.
Kaguchia was firm that he would not surrender himself to hooded men, insisting that if an arrest were necessary, it should be carried out transparently and in a manner consistent with the law, so that if the matter proceeded to court, he would have the opportunity to defend himself before a judge.
The MP was ultimately arrested outside the Royal Media Services studios after a senior police officer reportedly visited the station and demanded he be handed over. He was then escorted to DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road for questioning over the remarks he allegedly made at the political rally.
