Juja Member of Parliament (MP) George Koimburi was arrested on Tuesday, February 18.
In a statement, Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa revealed that Koimburi was arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). He, however, said that no reasons were given for the arrest.
“DCI at it again. They have arrested Juja MP George Koimburi. Reason? They are yet to say!” said Thang’wa.
A charge sheet seen by The Kenya Times indicates that Koimburi was arrested and taken to DCI headquarters for questioning following his claims over the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid in which Kenya was fronting former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
While speaking at PCEA Juja Farm during a church service on Sunday, the MP claimed that the government spent Ksh13 billion for the AUC chairmanship bid.
Juja MP George Koimburi accuses President Ruto of bribery
He further claimed that President William Ruto bribed other African heads of state to vote for Odinga who lost to Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
The legislator, at the same time, maintained that he would lead a push for an audit over the funds used for the Raila Odinga AUC bid.
“President William Ruto we are saddened after seeing you spent Ksh13 billion of taxpayers’ money, which could have been used for infrastructure, electricity, water, and people’s businesses so that Raila can be the AUC chairman,” Koimburi said.
“We are sad as a country because of seeing public funds being wasted by the government to bribe other countries to vote for Raila Odinga as the AUC chairman in Addis Ababa. It is a shame seeing President Ruto trying to bribe other Presidents to vote for Raila and the money being used is public funds paid by taxpayers.”
For these remarks, the MP has been charged with Offensive Conduct contrary to Section 94 of the Penal code.
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The MP has also been charged with False Publications contrary to Section 22(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cyber-crime Act no.5 of 2018.
MP forced to apologize
Back in July 2024, Koimburi was forced to apologize for his claims that legislators who voted in support of the withdrawn Finance Bill, 2024, were bribed.
The Juja MP had claimed that lawmakers were offered Ksh2 million to support the contentious law that triggered nationwide protests, culminating in agitated youth breaching Parliament.
He also claimed that following his vote against the Bill, he had received threats and that suspicious individuals were trailing him.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula read Koimburi’s apology before the House on Tuesday, July 23 afternoon.
The MP in his apology letter copied to the Majority and Minority leaders asked for forgiveness from fellow lawmakers, adding that he was remorseful.
“I, George Koimburu Ndung’u, would like to tender my apology to the House leadership and my fellow members of parliament. I understand we are living in very dynamic and sensitive times, and my past utterances may have caused problems in the country,” the letter stated.
He added, “I am remorseful and humbly seeking forgiveness.”
Apology dismissed
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Speaker Wetangula, on his part, said he had directed the MP, who was absent from the House, to avail himself before the House to elaborate on his allegations and the context of the letter.
On July 30, Koimburi was granted an opportunity to apologize on the floor of the House over his allegations.
He admitted to making the claims but insisted he did not have any evidence that the MPs indeed received the money.
“I was in church, and I made a mistake by saying that the Members of Parliament that voted YES, were bribed with Ksh2 million. I am here to say sorry to the members because I don’t have any evidence that they received money,” he said.
“That was just a hearsay that I heard when we were voting during the second reading of the Finance Bill.”
Wetang’ula told the House that the legislator visited him at the Speaker’s Chamber, adding that he called the Clerk to join them, where the MP made admissions about many of the things he had said before the House.
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