Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa has challenged the government to reveal the amount of money used in campaigning for Raila Odinga’s candidature in the concluded African Union Commission (AUC) elections.

Speaking outside the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Kiambu on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Thang’wa revealed he will be taking the matter to parliament to demand the figures be made public.

Koimburi was arrested on February 18, 2025, with the senator later taking to his social media accounts to reveal that he had been detained without an official charge sheet.

Koimburi arrested

According to the charge sheet displayed by the senator, the MP was taken in for questioning over remarks he made during a church event on Sunday, February 16, 2025, in Kiambu.

During his address to the church, the MP claimed that the government used approximately Ksh13 billion in the AUC elections.

In a move aimed at stoking a response from the government following the conclusion of the AUC race, Thang’wa has vowed to bring the matter before parliament, as part of their demand for accountability over taxpayers’ money.

“They are taking the opportunity to harass MPs. He (Koimburi) has a duty of representing the people, oversight and questioning issues that affect citizens. He merely asked a question. I will be taking the matter to the floor of parliament to ask the same question on how much of taxpayers’ money was used,” Thang’wa said.

Intimidation

The lawyer further faulted the arrest of Koimburi, terming it a ploy by the government machinery to intimidate and silence members of parliament from undertaking their oversight responsibilities.

“What we witnessed is the same tactic used by Wiliam Ruto to intimidate people into silence. It seems Raila’s defeat has not sat well with many. They should not weaponize the DCI and the police to silence members of parliament. To Koimburi, Kaa Ngangari! (Stay Put!),” he said.

The development comes after a section of MPs and lawyers voiced their reactions to Koimburi’s arrest.

Speaking on Tuesday moments after he was taken in, Senator Dan Maanzo and lawyer Njiru Ndegwa faulted the arresting entity for holding on the MP without presenting any official charges against him.

“I want to tell those who conducted the arrest to hurry up and take him to court. We will oppose the charges. They should hurry and bring him before a court. Those are frivolous allegations and cannot stand in a court of law,” Maanzo said.

“We have been here in the DCI offices to seek Koimburi’s release. He is being charged with offence under Cybercrime Act, Section 22 of data violation. We have been told they have taken him to Kamukunji and refused to give him bail. We looking to seek his bail,” Ndegwa Njiru said regarding the arrest.

The MP’s arrest comes as politicians engage in the postmortem exercise following Odinga’s failed quest for the AUC top seat on Saturday, February 15, 2025.