Wiper Party Joins Chorus Against "Unequal Application" of Law Following Political Rally Comments
Mukurweini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia has been arrested and detained at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Nairobi following remarks he made during a political rally in his Kieni constituency over the weekend.
The legislator was apprehended Monday morning after appearing on Inooro TV's Kiririmbi show at the Citizen TV studios. According to reports, he was forced to remain in the studios on Sunday night after a contingent of hooded men waited outside to escort him away. Regional DCI commander Daniel Kandie led the arrest operation.
During the political rally in Nyeri County on Saturday, Kaguchia had warned Mount Kenya residents of serious consequences should they vote for President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in his Kikuyu dialect, he cautioned that those casting their ballots for the President would be tracked to their homes and dealt with accordingly.
The arrest has reignited conversations about fairness in Kenya's justice system. Kaguchia himself has questioned the selective manner in which incitement laws are being applied, pointing out that several government-allied leaders have made inflammatory statements without facing similar action.
"Justice in Kenya cannot depend on whether you are pro-government or in the opposition," the MP said in his defence. He argued that if incitement is the benchmark for arrest, it must apply uniformly to all leaders, whether they are MPs from the opposition or sitting Cabinet Secretaries.
Kaguchia specifically referenced past incidents where senior government officials have made controversial remarks. He noted that the UDA Secretary General and a Cabinet Secretary allegedly hurled tribal insults at an entire community, calling them "hyenas," yet no action was taken against them.
"Why the double standard?" he posed, arguing that selective justice has no place in a functioning democracy.
Opposition Weighs In
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has condemned the arrest, echoing Kaguchia's concerns about unequal application of the law.
Hours after the MP was whisked away from the Royal Media Services offices, where he had spent the night in hiding, Kalonzo called for consistency in how the law is enforced.
"We do not support incitement from anyone," Kalonzo stated in a social media statement. "Every leader has a duty to protect peace and respect the rule of law.
However, the law must be applied fairly, not selectively. The Constitution guarantees every Kenyan freedom of expression, and this should be upheld for all citizens."
The Wiper boss demanded that anyone accused of making seditious remarks face the same level of scrutiny, regardless of their political alignment or position in government.
Kaguchia Stands Firm
From his detention at the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road, Kaguchia has maintained his position. He told Citizen TV that he will not relent and should be apprehended lawfully under clear circumstances.
"If there is anything the government has on me, I am not fearful of presenting myself to authorities to answer any questions, but not through unorthodox ways," he stated.
The MP's arrest comes at a time of heightened political tensions following the 2024 Gen Z-led protests and continued debates around government accountability and freedom of expression in Kenya.
Rights activists and opposition figures have increasingly raised concerns about what they describe as a two-tier justice system in the country.
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