Kenya: Gachagua Ally Alleges Police Siege Outside TV Studios in Bid to Arrest Him

What the report says

Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia has alleged that security officers tried to arrest him after his appearance on a Sunday night television program in Nairobi. According to the Capital FM report distributed by AllAfrica, Kaguchia said police surrounded Royal Media Services’ studios and set up roadblocks after he appeared on the Kiririmbi show. His lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, also said detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had intercepted the legislator, though the reasons were not clear.

The reported police action came after a video circulated online showing Kaguchia making remarks against supporters of President William Ruto’s re-election bid. In those comments, as quoted by Capital FM, the MP warned residents in Kieni against backing the president and used language that suggested social penalties for supporters. The remarks prompted public backlash before the alleged incident outside the TV studios.

Police had not responded to the allegations by the time of publication. The episode matters because it involves a sitting member of parliament, questions over police conduct, and the wider political tensions surrounding criticism of President Ruto ahead of future elections. As a general matter, such disputes in Kenya often draw scrutiny over freedom of expression, enforcement actions, and the role of security agencies, but the published report did not confirm any arrest or charge.