President William Ruto‘s visit to the Mt Kenya region that kicked off on April 1, 2025, sparked mixed reactions. Characterized by mammoth crowds, celebrations and dotted heckling, the tour has also had its fair share of drama. Manyatta Member of Parliament (MP) Gitonga Mukunji, an ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, broke his silence following his arrest and subsequent release during the President’s visit to Embu County.
Mukunji was among hundreds of residents who were on Friday, April 4, waiting for Ruto to arrive in Embu town to address the crowd when unidentified men, believed to be security officers, arrived and arrested him.
According to the reports, the parliamentarian was bundled into a waiting car and taken away as his supporters protested.
Witnesses said they saw the officers, who were in plain clothes, grab MP Mukunji and force him into the car before speeding off to an unknown destination.
In addition, reports indicate that he was taken around the town for hours and later released at Piai area in the neighboring Kirinyaga County.
Mukunji speaks
Following his release, Mukunji, while speaking to Nation, said that the arrest happened when he was in the Embu Central Business District (CBD), where the President was to address the gathering when six officers pulled up and took him by surprise.
According to the ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, he was not given the reasons why he had been seized.
“The officers confronted and arrested me; and they pushed me into the car and sped off with me sandwiched. They took me round and set me free after the Head of State left,” Mukunji told Nation.
He added, “They were six officers including the driver. They confronted me before the President arrived and whisked me off.”
The MP also said that “the officers appeared friendly and didn’t subject me to any form of torture.”
Also Read: Students & Travelers Left Stranded After Closure of Stage Ahead of Ruto Visit
Embu West Sub- County police boss Zachary Omae on his part while speaking to Nation said that he was in Embu town and was not aware that the MP had been arrested.
Ruto in Embu
During President Ruto’s visit in Embu, the Head of State flagged off a Ksh580 million last-mile electricity connectivity project which he said is set to benefit 6,500 households.
He also inspected the ongoing construction of the Embu modern market, which he said will accommodate 3,000 traders.
Following the inspection, Ruto addressed a gathering in Embu town where he refuted claims that his development tour is about politics, maintaining that it is time to build the nation.
“We must, therefore, unite in pursuit of our development agenda,” he said.
During his address in the town, the President faced some hostility from the crowd.
In some of the videos seen by The Kenya Times, “uongo” chants rented the air shortly after he started speaking.
Other videos also showed Ruto facing hostility when he introduced DP Kithure Kindiki.
Also Read: Love for Ruto in Mt Kenya or Paid Crowds? Experts Debunk Ruto’s Heroic Welcome
Govt critic
Mukunji’s arrest came at a time the MP continues to be a strong critic of President Ruto’s government.
The Kenya Young Parliamentary Association (KYPA) chairman fell out with the Kenya Kwanza government when he refused to participate in the impeachment of former DP Gachagua.
Also, he was among lawmakers from the Mt. Kenya region who rejected the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
Mukunji has consistently been in the forefront in condemning the rise of abduction cases of Kenyans and in turn criticizing the government.
In late 2024, he led anti-abduction demonstrations in Embu after Billy Mwangi, a college student, was abducted by security officers and detained for weeks.
Mwangi was later released and narrated how he went through hell in the hands of the abductors.
Mukunji is a first-time lawmaker. He won the seat in 2022 on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party ticket.
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