Controversy and confusion have gripped Kiambu County after Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi was forcefully taken by unknown individuals during a Sunday church service at Full Gospel Church in Mugutha, in full view of a shocked congregation.
The incident, which unfolded on the afternoon of May 25, saw the legislator hurriedly bundled into a Subaru vehicle as his wife attempted to shield him from the arrest. According to Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, the MP’s wife sustained injuries in the scuffle that ensued.
Senator Thang’wa, a close ally of Koimburi, confirmed that the lawmaker had been in hiding following a botched attempt to arrest him earlier in the week. He revealed that Koimburi had been trailed since Friday, May 23, when he was presiding over a bursary issuance event at Gachororo Primary School.
“They have been trailing him since last week when he was giving out bursaries,” Thang’wa said. “It was by sheer luck that he escaped on a motorbike,” he added.
Initial reports on Friday had indicated that the MP had been kidnapped. However, it later emerged that Koimburi had managed to flee the scene, abandoning his official vehicle and driver. The driver was later taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, where he was questioned and released.
The reasons behind the attempted apprehension remain unclear, with Koimburi’s allies insisting that he was never served with a summons. The Sunday ambush has raised fresh questions about the legality and transparency of the actions against the lawmaker.
This is not the first time Koimburi has evaded arrest. In February, he staged a dramatic escape outside the Kiambu Law Courts, fleeing on a motorcycle shortly after addressing the media with his legal team. At the time, he faced six criminal charges related to alleged forgery of academic certificates dating back nearly 30 years.
Sunday’s dramatic turn of events has sparked outrage among his supporters and drawn attention to the increasing political tension in the region. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest incident or clarify the charges the MP may be facing.
As of now, the lawmaker’s current whereabouts remain unknown following his forceful apprehension.