Juja MP arrested over remarks on AUC

People's Empowerment Party candidate George Ndung'u Koimburi, address press after voting on May 18, 2021 at Magomano Primary School polling stations during Juja By-election[Edward Kiplimo, Standard]. Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi was arrested on Tuesday morning following remarks he made on Sunday at a church service regarding the funding of Raila Odinga's campaign for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship. The legislator was taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road for questioning before being transferred to Kamukunji Police Station in Nairobi. Koimburi faces possible charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018 and the Penal Code. The first count relates to false publication, contrary to Section 22(1) of the Act, while the second charge falls under offensive conduct, contrary to Section 94 of the Penal Code. The charges stem from comments he made on January 16 at PCEA Juja Farm Parish, where he alleged that President William Ruto used public funds to bribe other African heads of state to support Odinga's bid for the AUC chairmanship. Koimburi's advocate Ndegwa Njiru, speaking outside the DCI headquarters, criticised the charges, arguing that the MP was merely fulfilling his parliamentary role of oversight. "Koimburi has been arrested for demanding accountability. He questioned how much public money was spent on Odinga's campaign, which is his constitutional duty as a legislator. The fact that he is being charged under the Cybercrimes Act for verbal remarks is absurd," said Njiru. Njiru also noted that Koimburi had declined to record a statement and chose to remain silent. "They are treating him as if he is a computer or a phone capable of violating data laws. This is a clear case of intimidation meant to silence those who demand transparency in government spending," he added. Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo dismissed the charges as frivolous and called for Koimburi's immediate release. "If they believe the allegations hold any weight, they should take him to court immediately so we can oppose the charges. This is a political witch hunt. In fact, the allegations Koimburi raised could form grounds for an impeachment motion against President Ruto. Parliament has the responsibility to question how public funds are spent," Maanzo stated. Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa also condemned the arrest, terming it an attempt to muzzle critics of the government. "What we are seeing is the same intimidation tactics that the President Ruto's administration is using to silence critics. They should not use or weaponise DCI or police to come and try to silence members of Parliament," he said. According to the charge sheet, as shared by Koimburi's team, he is accused of knowingly spreading false information meant to incite unrest against the government. The charge sheet further states that Koimburi's remarks were intended to provoke a breach of peace, thus constituting offensive conduct under Section 94 of the Penal Code.

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