Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni has slammed the state over the arrest of Kitutu Chache Member of Parliament (MP) Antony Kibagendi.

While speaking at Narok Law Courts after defending the MP in court on Wednesday, January 21, 2025, the outspoken senator termed the dramatic arrest of the MP in Nairobi near Muthaiga as political intimidation.

He stated that Kibagendi was flown to Kisii, then taken to Nyamira and finally detained at Keroka. Omogeni, who is also his lawyer, said he believed Kibagendi would be produced at Kisii Law Courts, only for him to later be ferried to Narok for the hearing. He insisted that the arrest would not silence the MP.

Omogeni believes that Kibagendi was arrested because of his continued criticism of the state in recent times. He said the MP has been condemning injustice in society and corruption, which, according to the senior counsel, has put him at odds with the state, leading to his arrest.

The lawmaker further called upon the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to spend more time prosecuting corruption-related cases rather than pursuing individuals who appear to be critics of the state.

The senator further stated that Kibagendi has been released on a Ksh100,000 bail.

“We maintain that this is political harassment because Kibagendi has been at the forefront of fighting for justice and condemning corruption. We urge the DPP to spend more energy looking at those who have stolen our resources.”

Kibagendi’s arrest

This comes a day after the MP took to his social media platforms to report his arrest by officers drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

He later reported that he was being driven to the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road.

In another post, he has stated that he is being held at Muthaiga police station, castigating President William Ruto and the Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen for the arrest, terming it as intimidation over his opposition to the government.

“Someone tell Murkomen and William Ruto that we shall not be intimidated,” added Kibagendi.

This comes at a time when Kibagendi has been heavily critical of the state, even seen engaging in a verbal exchange with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over his ministry’s handling of the Social Health Authority (SHA) in parliament.