Richard Onyonka condemns alleged attempt to arrest MP John Kaguchia outside TV studios
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has condemned what he described as an excessive police operation allegedly targeting Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia outside the Royal Media Services studios.
Senator Richard Onyonka has criticised the circumstances surrounding an alleged attempt to arrest Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia, claiming that the operation involved a heavy deployment of armed police officers and vehicles outside the Royal Media Services (RMS) premises.
Speaking during a morning television interview on Monday, August 3, 2026, Onyonka said the incident raised concerns over the treatment of politicians and other Kenyans expressing dissenting views.
The senator claimed that Kaguchia had remained inside the media company’s premises overnight after officers allegedly surrounded the studios following the MP’s appearance on a local television programme.
“We are becoming more intolerant to what others say and what they want to do.”
Onyonka said he was particularly concerned by the alleged presence of heavily armed officers and several police vehicles outside the station.
“And the typical case, I think you are aware this morning, is about Hon. 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 about 10 Subarus are waiting for Kaguchia,” he said.
Onyonka demands due process
The Kisii senator stressed that his criticism of the alleged operation should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any remarks attributed to Kaguchia.
Instead, he argued that law enforcement agencies should follow established legal procedures when seeking to question or arrest an elected official.
“He is a Member of Parliament. I don’t think he is going to run anywhere. I don’t think he has killed anybody,” Onyonka said.
“Whatever he said, and I am not justifying what he said, but there must be a better way.”
His comments come amid heightened political debate in Kenya, with opposition politicians and government critics frequently raising concerns over the manner in which police and investigative agencies handle politically sensitive cases.
Onyonka argued that the circumstances surrounding Kaguchia’s alleged targeting did not appear to justify the deployment he described.
Senator appeals to Inspector General
Onyonka also called on the Inspector General of Police to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempted arrest.
He argued that police could initially issue summonses or communicate with an individual suspected of committing an offence before resorting to a highly visible arrest operation.
“For me, the IG must really look at this issue. There must be a better way of arresting somebody like me,” he said.
“You can send me a message, and if I don’t respond, you can actually publicly say so-and-so should report to the DCI because there are matters of concern and follow due process.”
The senator maintained that law enforcement agencies must strike a balance between enforcing the law and respecting the rights of individuals, including elected representatives.
Kaguchia claims security operation surrounded RMS
Kaguchia had earlier raised the alarm after appearing on a Royal Media Services television programme on Sunday, August 2.
In social media updates posted during the early hours of Monday, the Mukurwe-ini MP claimed that heavily armed, hooded and masked men had surrounded the RMS headquarters.
He alleged that roadblocks had also been erected around the premises in what he believed was an attempt to arrest him after his television appearance.
“After my Kiririmbi show this evening, a contingent of police has surrounded Royal Media Studios and erected roadblocks with the intention of arresting me! I will not be intimidated whatsoever,” Kaguchia said.
The claims sparked concern among political allies and commentators, with Onyonka subsequently using the incident to argue that Kenya’s approach to political dissent and law enforcement requires greater scrutiny.
However, the allegations concerning the number and identity of officers involved, as well as the exact circumstances surrounding the reported operation, would require confirmation from the relevant security agencies.
The incident also places renewed attention on the delicate relationship between Kenya’s political class, law enforcement agencies and the media, particularly when controversial political statements result in demands for investigations or arrests.
For now, questions remain over what prompted the alleged police operation, whether Kaguchia was formally summoned or wanted for questioning, and whether authorities will publicly clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported deployment.
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