Kenyan legislator George Koimburi is receiving medical treatment at Nairobi’s Karen Hospital after reportedly being abducted and later discovered injured on a coffee farm.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua confirmed the development on Monday, stating that the MP was “badly beaten” and in “a very serious condition.”
Koimburi, who represents Juja constituency in central Kiambu County, was allegedly seized by unidentified men shortly after attending a church service on Sunday.
His wife told reporters that the incident happened just outside the church, where he was forcefully taken and bundled into a vehicle.
The lawmaker, known for his criticism of President William Ruto’s administration, is politically aligned with Gachagua, who was ousted from office last year following a fallout with the president and subsequent impeachment by parliament.
Koimburi was found early Monday in the nearby Ruiru constituency, approximately 10 kilometers from the scene of his reported abduction.
According to local media, a motorcyclist stumbled upon him lying on a coffee farm and alerted members of the public and his family.
Footage circulating online shows Koimburi lying on the ground with tattered clothing, appearing to be in significant pain.
Gachagua, speaking after visiting Koimburi in hospital, accused the government of going after legislators who have taken a strong stand against the current administration.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage, with opposition leaders accusing the government of orchestrating a campaign of harassment and intimidation.
Police say they have opened an investigation into the case, though no official comment has been issued by the government so far.
Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka expressed deep concern over the incident, noting that an MP with police security could be abducted in broad daylight.
“It means Kenyans are on their own,” he said, adding that opposition leaders will convene on Tuesday to discuss what he described as growing political persecution under the Kenya Kwanza government.
Koimburi was previously arrested in February on allegations of forging academic documents. He denied the charges and was released on bail. Police are also said to be probing him over alleged involvement in land fraud and the misuse of public funds—accusations he firmly denies.
The MP’s alleged abduction comes in the wake of increasing insecurity across the country. Just weeks ago, another MP, Charles Ong’ondo Were, was gunned down in Nairobi by attackers on a motorcycle in what authorities described as a “targeted and predetermined” killing. Several suspects have since been apprehended.
Public concern over safety has escalated, particularly after a spate of abductions following last year’s mass protests against rising taxes.
Human rights groups, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), report that more than 80 people have been abducted since the demonstrations began in June 2023.
The commission has pointed fingers at state security agencies, though authorities have repeatedly denied any role.
President Ruto, addressing the matter earlier this month, claimed that the government had taken steps to curb abductions but did not provide further details.
