Three arrested as probe reveals Juja MP Koimburi may have faked his own abduction

Police have arrested three suspects as part of the ongoing investigations into the alleged abduction of Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi.

According to the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, the three have provided key information that is helping to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In a statement on Wednesday, Kanja said one of the suspects told police that he was with the MP in church on May 25 when two men forced Koimburi into a silver Subaru Forester.

The suspect later reported the incident at Mugutha Police Station, and the following day received a call from the MP’s daughter informing him that her father had been found in a coffee farm in Juja.

“They then took the MP to Plainsview Hospital, Ruiru, for first aid before he was referred to Karen Hospital for further treatment,” Kanja said.

Further details emerged from the second suspect, who said the first had requested his Subaru Forester on May 24 to provide extra security personnel. On May 25, he drove to Mugutha, where he met one of the three suspects, who was driving a Honda CR-V. Together, they proceeded to the church in Mugutha.

Kanja explained that one of the suspects drove the Subaru Forester with two men towards the church.

“Upon arrival, the two men exited quickly, and he heard screams as the MP was forced into the vehicle,” he said.

The suspects then drove to Jacaranda Coffee Research via Kambogo Road, where Koimburi was transferred to the Honda CR-V driven by a man named as Gatana. One of the three suspects was left behind and warned not to disclose the incident.

Cars recovered

Police confirmed they have recovered both the Honda CR-V and the silver Subaru Forester.

One of the suspects admitted to dropping the MP at a hotel where he spent the night with his alleged abductors.

“On May 26, he picked up the MP and took him to the scene where they claimed he had been dumped,” Kanja said.

The suspect also confessed that before Koimburi exited the vehicle, he helped him tear his clothes to fake evidence of torture.

Orchestrated his own abduction

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Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin disclosed that the investigation had revealed that Koimburi orchestrated his own abduction.

“Our officers tracked the MP’s movements from the time he went missing until he was found at a coffee plantation in Juja, but there were inconsistencies,” Amin said.

“It is unfortunate for a Member of Parliament to stage-manage his own abduction, causing fear and tension across the country. Luckily, we expedited investigations and exposed that the MP was not abducted. We accounted for all his movements from church attendance to where he slept at night.”

Amin also revealed that the investigative team was denied access to interview Koimburi, who, according to the report, did not suffer any injuries.

“We identified the hotel and room where he stayed. Unfortunately, as a supposed victim, the team could not interview him,” Amin noted.

Stern action

Members of Parliament have now vowed to take stern action against Koimburi if investigations confirm that he fabricated his own abduction.

The legislators have warned that such conduct not only breaks the law but also tarnishes the reputation of Parliament.

In a heated debate in Parliament on Wednesday, the legislators condemned the MP’s alleged behaviour as reckless and harmful to the integrity of the National Assembly, urging security agencies to speed up the probe and bring the matter to a definitive conclusion.

A section of MPs expressed strong condemnation of Koimburi following preliminary investigations suggesting that the MP may have staged his own abduction. They called on investigative agencies to swiftly uncover the truth behind the incident and questioned the credibility of the abduction claims.

Those found responsible for any falsehoods, they warned, must face legal repercussions.

The debate in Parliament was sparked by a report from the Internal Administration and National Security Committee Chair Gabriel Tongoyo, which outlined findings from initial investigations into the alleged self-abduction.

Damage Parliament’s integrity

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah stressed that if Koimburi’s narrative is disproved, it would deeply damage Parliament’s integrity and erode public confidence in the institution.

“We are not just discussing one of us, but the dignity of the office of a Member of Parliament. If an MP, elected by the people to represent them in this House, can engage in such criminality as Hon. Koimburi is alleged to have done, this is one of the saddest days for this House,” Ichung’wah said.

He reminded MPs that Koimburi had a history of making serious but unproven allegations, which had already sullied the House’s reputation.

“This is the same member who last year claimed MPs were being paid Sh2 million to vote on the Finance Bill. He appeared before this House, apologised, and we accepted his apology in magnanimity. As a House, we must not let this new issue pass without action,” Ichung’wah added.

Political mileage

Minority Whip Junet Mohammed dismissed the abduction as a politically orchestrated stunt aimed at gaining political mileage and damaging the government’s image.

“To my shock, the report tabled today in Parliament is what I can only call the biggest political scandal in our country. When I first saw the photos circulating in the media, I knew this was fake, the way my colleague was sleeping showed this was staged,” Junet said.

He accused the orchestrators of the drama of mimicking a similar act by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during his impeachment saga in 2024.

“I have concluded that the director of this drama is none other than Mr Wamunyoro (Gachagua). He pulled the same stunt during the Senate impeachment inquiry by admitting himself to the same hospital,” he stated amid laughter.

Junet also criticised the restricted access to Koimburi during his hospitalisation, noting that only a select group, including Gachagua’s associates, was allowed to visit while many MPs were barred.

“It is unfortunate that politicians would go to such lengths. The chairman of the security committee and his colleagues were denied access, while only the Wamunyoro group was allowed. Even ICU patients have visitors; this was unprecedented,” he said.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo expressed dismay over the possibility of such a serious claim being misused and warned that if found false, it must be punished to deter others.

“It would be very unfortunate after losing one of our MPs to violence for theatrics around security issues to arise. Today it may be drama, tomorrow it could be real. The police have presented a preliminary report. If this is proven to be false, the MP should be prosecuted as an example. This is not a joke,” she said.

As a human rights defender and direct victim of attacks, Odhiambo affirmed her opposition to abductions but insisted that such claims must not be politicised or fabricated.

Involve IPOA in probe

Manyatta MP John Mukunji called on the Speaker to involve the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) in the investigations, citing concerns about police independence and MPs’ security.

“Hon. Speaker, your guidance is crucial on this matter that affects all our security. We’ve lost an MP, and by-elections are costly. We must be vigilant and ensure IPOA also reports on this case,” he urged.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo criticised the unofficial updates on Koimburi’s medical condition by non-medical personnel, warning this could cause misinformation.

“It’s unusual for people who are not medical practitioners to give updates on a patient’s condition. This is unique and not good, as it creates confusion about who speaks authoritatively,” he said.

Amollo emphasised the need for a conclusive and fair investigation, with justice applied equally whether the case involves actual abduction or fabrication.

“I expect a conclusive report. If people were involved in kidnapping our colleague, they must be prosecuted. But if others fabricated the story, they too must face justice,” he said.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula assured MPs that the matter is under investigation by the relevant authorities and the House will await a formal report before deciding on further action.

“I have contacted the DCI, who informed me he was denied access to see the Member. We await the IG to finalise the investigation and give us a conclusive report before I give directions,” Wetang’ula said.