Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused President William Ruto of using intimidation and state security agencies to silence critics, following the arrest and arraignment of Kitutu Chache South Member of Parliament (MP) Anthony Kibagendi.
In a statement on his social media on Wednesday, January 21, Kalonzo alleged that security officers forcibly took Kibagendi before transporting him and charging him far from the location of his arrest.
The former vice president argued that the detention of Kibagendi and other dissenting voices in recent days is part of a broader government strategy to intimidate opponents.
He claimed the administration rules through fear, asserting it seeks to cow Kenyans under 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 also referenced the 2010 Constitution, accusing the head of state of violating the very document he vowed to uphold, defend, and protect, and affirmed that no amount of intimidation would silence the people’s voices.
The remarks followed Kibagendi’s arrest on January 20 in Nairobi by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who reportedly blocked him aggressively before detaining him at Muthaiga police station.
On Wednesday, January 21, Kibagendi appeared at Narok Law Courts, pleaded not guilty to assault charges, and was released on a cash bail of KSh 100,000. The court noted the prosecution had not presented sufficient grounds to deny him liberty at this stage.
The arraignment, which took place far from his place of arrest, is what Kalonzo described as “persecution by geography.”
Kibagendi was charged with assault, allegedly stemming from a December altercation with a man at a restaurant in Kisii town, though he denied the allegations. The next hearing is set for March 2.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders and human rights groups have previously raised concerns over alleged government abductions of critics.
One notable case involved Juja MP George Koimburi, who was reportedly abducted after a church service and later found injured at a coffee plantation. The opposition condemned the government, alleging that he was chemically harmed and lost his vocal cords.
However, in early January 2026, Koimburi, following a fallout with the opposition, claimed the incident was staged for attention, raising questions about prior abduction allegations against the state.
