The opposition has called for urgent crisis talks on Tuesday amid rising concerns over alleged abductions targeting political leaders, following the dramatic abduction and release of Juja MP George Koimburi.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, speaking in a statement on Monday, condemned Koimburi’s abduction and warned of a deteriorating political climate in the country. Kalonzo said the incident underscores growing political harassment and intimidation, calling it a dangerous precedent.
“We condemn the abduction of Juja MP George Koimburi in the strongest terms possible,” said Kalonzo. “If an MP who is entitled to security gets abducted in broad daylight, it means Kenyans are on their own.”
Koimburi was found on Monday morning unconscious and dumped in a coffee plantation in Kibichoi, Kiambu County. He was dressed in the same navy blue suit he wore on Sunday when he was allegedly abducted outside a church. The lawmaker reportedly sustained injuries and was rushed to Karen Hospital by ambulance after being discovered by residents.
His wife, Ann Koimburi, recounted that the MP was seized by two unidentified men posing as worshippers. The assailants, dressed in plain clothes, reportedly forced him into a waiting Subaru Forester with altered number plates—believed to have been tampered with to conceal the vehicle’s identity.
The motive behind the incident remains unclear, and police have denied any involvement. Authorities have launched investigations and expressed interest in speaking with Koimburi to better understand the events surrounding his disappearance and recovery. An officer involved in the probe revealed that the MP’s mobile phone had been off since Friday, when a prior police operation to arrest him was called off.
The opposition views the incident as part of a larger pattern of political intimidation. Tuesday’s crisis talks are expected to bring together key opposition figures to address the trend and formulate a collective response.
As investigations continue, Kenyans remain concerned about the safety of elected officials and the potential erosion of democratic space in the country.
