Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang'wa has revealed that detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi.
Koimburi was reportedly taken to the DCI Headquarters along Kiambu Road for questioning. Senator Thang'wa however did not reveal the reason for the lawmaker's arrest.
“DCI at it again. They have arrested Juja MP George Koimburi. Reason? They are yet to say!” said Thang’wa on social media.
Officers stand guard outside the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road. /NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE
Reports indicated that he was intercepted by DCI detectives while heading to Parliament on Tuesday morning, February 18. The Kiambu Senator mentioned that he received a phone call from Koimburi while he was being escorted to the Kiambu Road Headquarters, though he did not disclose the reasons for the detention.
Thang'wa stated that the detectives had not informed the MP of the reason for his detainment, leaving him uncertain whether it was a lawful arrest or an abduction.
Also confirming the developments, Nairobi lawyer Ndegwa Njiru took to social media confirming that the MP was being held at the DCI headquarters and that he was representing him.
"I am at the DCI headquarters representing Hon. Koimburi, who has been arrested for stating the obvious—that Kasongo spent over Ksh13 billion on Raila’s AUC botched mission. What’s wrong with calling him to account? Is it that the truth hurts?" Njiru opined.
Koimburi made the shocking claims during a church service, alleging that the President used taxpayers' money to persuade African leaders to support former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
“We are sad as a country because of seeing public funds being wasted by the government bribing other countries to vote for Raila Odinga as the AUC chairman in Addis Ababa. It is a shame seeing President Ruto trying to bribe other Presidents to vote for Raila and the money being used is public funds paid by taxpayers,” Koimburi claimed during a church service on Sunday, February 16.
“President William Ruto we are saddened after seeing you spent Ksh13 billion of taxpayers’ money, which could have been used for infrastructure, electricity, water, and people’s businesses so that Raila can be the AUC chairman.”
The legislator also insisted that he would spearhead efforts to audit the funds spent on Raila Odinga's AUC bid.
Koimburi is no stranger to controversy. On July 23, 2024, MPs demanded action to be taken against Koimburi over allegations of being bribed to support the deleted Finance Bill 2024. This is after he sensationally claimed that MPs who supported the Bill were promised a Ksh2 million 'reward'.
The legislators vocally stormed the August House during the afternoon session following the claims amidst Koimburi writing a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, apologising for his comments.
The MPs demanded more than just a mere apology from the Juja MP, and in the spirit of pushing for accountability and transparency, the enraged lawmakers called for Wetangula to punish Koimburi.
Bird's eye view of Parliament during a past session. /PARLIAMENT OF KENYA