Kalonzo Accuses Ruto of Intimidation After Arrest of Kitutu Chache South MP

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused President William Ruto of using intimidation and law enforcement agencies to suppress those opposing his administration, following the arrest and arraignment of Kitutu Chache South MP Antony Kibagendi.

In a statement on his social media account on Wednesday, January 21, Kalonzo claims that security agencies abducted Kibagendi before transporting and charging him far from where he was reportedly arrested.

 The former vice president claimed that the arrest of Kibagendi and other dissenting figures in recent days was part of a broader strategy by the government to intimidate critics and political opponents. He argued that the administration governs through fear, saying it believes it can cow Kenyans through what he described as impunity.

Abducting citizens and political opponents like Anthony Kibagendi, transporting them across the country, and charging them at police stations far from where their alleged crimes were committed is not justice. It is persecution by geography," Kalonzo stated.

Expression of opinion is not a crime. It is a constitutional right, not a favour from the "state," he added.

Kalonzo further referred to the constitution of Kenya 2010, criticising the head of State for violating it. Yet, he swore to uphold, defend, and protect it, noting that no amount of intimidation would silence he people's voices.

His comments followed the arrest of MP Kibagendi on January 20 in Nairobi by officers from the DCI before being locked up at Muthaiga police station. The MP expressed his discontent with how he was arrested, noting that he was aggressively blocked.

On Wednesday, January 21, Kibagendi was arraigned at Narok Law Courts before being released on a cash bail of ksh 100,000. This arraignment, far from where he was apprehended, is what Kalonzo refers to as persecution by geography.

Kibagendi was charged with assault, believed to have come from a December incident where he was captured in an altercation with a man at a restaurant in Kisii town. However, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. The hearing date of the case has been set for March 2.

There have been claims, especially by the opposition and human rights groups in the recent past, of alleged government abduction of citizens and leaders who were seemingly opposed to the government.

One that was controversial was the alleged abduction of Juja MP George Koimburi. The MP was allegedly abducted after coming from a church service before he could be found lying at a coffee plantation, seemingly injured. The opposition condemned the government and accused it of carrying out the abduction. They said Koimburi was severely hurt, and some chemicals were used on him that led to the loss of his vocal cords. 

Later in early January 2026, the MP, after a fallout with the opposition, claimed that the abduction was staged and was aimed at seeking public attention, raising questions of alleged abductions by the State.