Gachagua Alleges MP Koimburi Was Poisoned and Tortured by State Agents
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi was tortured and poisoned during his recent abduction, in what he described as a deliberate attempt by state operatives to silence dissent.
Speaking to reporters outside the Karen Hospital on Monday, Gachagua revealed that Koimburi had suffered serious injuries and had lost his ability to speak due to alleged chemical poisoning.
“I have seen him and talked to the doctors. They have confirmed that George Koimburi was tortured by professionals. He has soft tissue injuries, a kind of torture done by professionals. He has lost his voice, and the doctors are working around the clock to restore his vocal cords,” said Gachagua.
According to Gachagua, chemicals were administered to Koimburi through inhalation, damaging his vocal cords and leaving him frail and largely immobile. Doctors confirmed he is in stable condition but still in critical recovery.
Koimburi was found earlier on Monday at a coffee plantation in Kiambu County after going missing for nearly 18 hours. His disappearance followed an alleged attempt to arrest him on May 23 during a bursary distribution event. Allies of the MP insist that no arrest warrants or summons were ever issued.
Gachagua accused the government of using “desperate tactics” against its political opponents, linking Koimburi’s ordeal to what he claimed was a wider pattern of intimidation targeting Kenya Kwanza critics.
He went further to draw parallels between the incident and recent cases of activist suppression in Tanzania, urging the international community to closely monitor the situation in Kenya.
“This is no longer about politics. We are witnessing the return of chemical and biological warfare tactics against elected leaders. This must be stopped before it gets worse,” he warned.
Notably, this is the second time Gachagua has made such claims. On May 19, he alleged that government agents had been instructed to use “biological armoury” to impair his cognitive ability over time. He said he received intelligence about plans to apprehend him during a church service in Murang’a the day prior.
In addition to the poisoning claims, Gachagua also said several opposition lawmakers had their security withdrawn, leaving them vulnerable to state-led intimidation.
As of now, the government has not responded to Gachagua’s serious allegations. The case of MP Koimburi continues to spark outrage, raising new concerns over the safety of vocal political figures in Kenya’s charged political environment.
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Gachagua Alleges MP Koimburi Was Poisoned and Tortured by State Agents