Senator Onyonka condemns rising cases of political intolerance amid probe on MP Kaguchia

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, Onyonka criticized how Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia was handled by law enforcement officers, leading to his arrest on Monday morning at Citizen TV offices, saying there were better ways of addressing the matter.

"The feeling I'm beginning to have is that we're becoming more and more intolerant to what we say about others and what the others want to do when we say some things," he said.

Onyonka noted the legislator was forced to remain inside Citizen TV studios overnight after masked police officers allegedly surrounded the premises.

"Typical case, I think you're aware this morning about  Kaguchia. He has not left your studio here from last night. Simply because when we came in outside Citizen TV, there are about 40 police officers brandishing AK-47s and there are about 10 Subarus waiting for Kaguchia," Onyonka noted.

"He's a member of parliament. I don't think he's going to run anywhere. I don't think he has killed anybody, whatever he said, and I'm not justifying what he said, but there must be a better way. " 

This comes after Kaguchia, while addressing a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County, on Saturday, warned Mt. Kenya residents against voting for President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

Kaguchia, speaking in Kikuyu dialect, warned that those who vote for the President will be tracked to their homes and "smoked out", remarks that have since drawn widespread criticism.

Onyonka argued that regardless of the allegations facing Kaguchia, his arrest should have been conducted in a manner that respects due process and does not create fear among public officials appearing for media interviews.

"There must be a better way on how you arrest somebody like me. Okay. You can send me a message. Then you can actually, if I don't respond, you can actually publicly say, we have said so and so,  please report to the DCI because there are matters affecting you. Okay. And then follow due process," he added.

The Senator warned that carrying out arrests outside media houses could have a chilling effect on public participation, discouraging leaders and other guests from appearing for television interviews.

Kaguchia is being held at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) main headquarters along Kiambu Road.