KAMPALA, Uganda — Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament (MP) John Kaguchia has been arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over alleged incitement, ending an overnight standoff at the Nairobi offices of Royal Media Services (RMS) where the legislator had sought refuge after claiming security officers were waiting to arrest him.
Kaguchia was taken into custody on Monday 3, August 2026 morning after spending the night at the media house following his appearance on Inooro TV’s Kiririmbi programme. The lawmaker had claimed that heavily armed security officers had surrounded the premises shortly after the interview, forcing him to remain inside the station overnight.
The arrest is linked to remarks Kaguchia made during a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County, on Saturday, which investigators are examining for possible incitement. Authorities have not publicly detailed the specific statements under investigation or announced any formal charges against the MP.
Before his arrest, Kaguchia posted on social media alleging that police had surrounded the Royal Media Services compound with the intention of arresting him.
“After my Kiririmbi Show this evening a contingent of Police have surrounded Royal Media Studios and erected road blocks with intentions of arresting me! I will NOT BE INTIMIDATED whatsoever,” he wrote.
The legislator later claimed that more than 40 hooded and heavily armed men had remained outside the media house overnight, describing the operation as an attempt to intimidate him over his political views.
Speaking to Citizen TV before his arrest, Kaguchia insisted that his remarks during the Kieni rally had been taken out of context and unfairly portrayed as inflammatory.
He alleged that government digital strategist Dennis Itumbi, together with several political leaders from the Mt. Kenya region, had amplified what he described as a distorted interpretation of his speech.
“I saw a lot of hype yesterday by the government about my political utterances that I did on Saturday in one of the political rallies, which I saw were being pushed as being inflammatory. That is an issue that falls under the purview of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC),” Kaguchia said.
Under Kenyan law, allegations of hate speech and incitement are commonly investigated in collaboration with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) before criminal prosecution is considered.
Detectives arrived at the Royal Media Services headquarters on Monday morning and escorted the MP to DCI offices for questioning. The arrest brought to an end several hours of uncertainty after security personnel camped outside the media house overnight.
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The incident has triggered political debate, with opposition figures questioning the circumstances surrounding the operation and accusing authorities of using criminal investigations to intimidate government critics. Supporters of the legislator also staged demonstrations in Mukurwe-ini demanding his immediate release.
Authorities have not indicated whether Kaguchia will be formally charged or released after questioning.
The arrest comes amid heightened political tensions in Kenya as leaders continue to trade accusations over the country’s political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election, with law enforcement increasingly investigating statements made during public rallies.
By Monday 3, August 2026 afternoon, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had not issued a detailed public statement outlining the specific offences under investigation or confirming whether Kaguchia would be presented before a court.
