After numerous claims that Evans Onyango Kawala, famously known as Kidero Jasuba, had been abducted, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have confirmed his arrest.

According to DCI, the vocal Bunge la Mwanachi member was arrested as a person of interest linked to inflammatory public utterances that have been circulating widely across social media platforms.

Confirming the incident on their social media platform on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the DCI has noted that the content shared online was considered highly inciting and posed a serious threat to public cohesion and national stability.

“Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a suspect linked to inflammatory public utterances that have gone viral across social media platforms, with content deemed highly inciteful and a serious threat to public cohesion and national stability,” the DCI statement read in part.

The 33-year-old person of interest was apprehended in the Shujaa Mall area of Kayole during a coordinated operation conducted by detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU).

Authorities said the individual is currently in custody, undergoing processing ahead of arraignment in court.

The DCI has cautioned members of the public against making public utterances or sharing content that could incite violence, spread hatred, or undermine peace and national unity.

The agency warned that such acts amount to serious offences and affirmed that anyone found culpable would face firm legal action in accordance with the law.

Orengo slams government over alleged abduction of Kidero Jasuba

This comes after Siaya governor James Orengo, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, accused the government of abducting the individual for criticising Ruto’s administration.

Orengo claimed that Kidero Jasuba was being targeted for speaking truth to power.

“Tonight, the Ruto administration resorted to desperate measures by abducting Evance ‘Kidero Jasuba’ Kawala, a vocal champion of the Jacaranda Bunge La Mwananchi, simply for speaking truth to power,” Orengo stated.

“Oppression only signals a government’s weakness. You can abduct a critic, but you cannot chain the spirit of defiance. We demand his immediate and unconditional release,” he added.

However, DCI’s statement has debunked the abduction claims, insisting that he was arrested over his remarks.

NCIC warns against divisive remarks ahead of 2027

The arrest comes at a time when the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has warned political leaders and social media users against hate speech and ethnic incitement, saying it is now fully constituted and will take action against anyone found to have violated the law.

In a statement on Monday, May 25, 2026, following the swearing-in of its chairperson and seven commissioners, the commission said it is ready to serve at a time when the country is experiencing rising political intolerance, hate speech, ethnic contempt and violent rhetoric.

The commission said it has observed disruptions of political meetings, inflammatory utterances, online attacks, ethnic profiling and the demonisation of divergent political views, warning that some incidents amount to violations of the law.

“Democracy demands tolerance, respect for diversity of opinion, adherence to constitutional principles, and fidelity to the rule of law,” NCIC said, adding that intimidation, weaponising ethnicity and incitement put democracy “in peril”, NCIC stated.

NCIC cited Article 33 of the Constitution, saying while freedom of expression is protected, it does not extend to hate speech, ethnic incitement and advocacy of hatred, which are prohibited under the Constitution and the National Cohesion and Integration Act.

The commission said it is concerned by the misuse of digital platforms to spread divisive content, noting that online hate speech carries the same legal consequences as public utterances.