Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has revealed that police officers have arrested three people in connection with the reported abduction of Juja MP George Koimburi on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Kanja indicated that the three persons of interest are Koimburi’s close allies, including Juja constituency CDF chairman, Cyrus Kieru, a businessman and Karanja Gatana, a driver of a vehicle involved in the incident.
The authorities say that the statements of the three individuals they arrested and questioned revealed that the reported abduction was staged, and had been planned on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
Timeline of the abduction
“Three additional individuals, Peter Kiratu (Juja CDF chairman), Cyrus Kieru Muhia and Karanja Gatana were arrested and provided statements, which have offered crucial leads and further insights into the alleged abduction,” Kanja noted.
“Peter Kiratu, the Juja CDF Chairman, stated that on 25 May 2025, he attended a church service at Full Gospel Church, Mugutha, with the MP. As they were leaving, a silver Subaru Forester Reg. KBP 096W approached the main entrance, and two heavily built men bundled the MP into the vehicle. He reported the incident at Mugutha Police Station,” Kanja stated.
Police equally noted that Kiratu received a phone call from Koimburi’s daughter, identified as Wanjiru, who informed him that the legislator had been found in a coffee plantation in Juja.
He rushed to the scene and took Koimburi to Plainsview Hospital in Ruiru before he was transferred to Karen Hospital for further treatment.
Cars used in the abduction
Police also said that Cyrus Kieru’s Subaru was used in the alleged abduction of the MP. Kieru, according to the police, is an ally of Koimburi, and the plan to use his car was hatched on the eve of the abduction.
“Cyrus Kieru Muhia, an ally of Hon. Koimburi, who runs a supermarket at Kahawa West Area, stated that on 24 May 2025, he received a call from Peter Kiratu, CDF Chairman, requesting the use of his Subaru Forester Reg. No. KDG 803B to transport additional security personnel for the MP during an event at Full Gospel Church, Mugutha, and he agreed,” Kanja revealed.
“On 25 May 2025, Kiratu instructed him to go to his homestead in Mugutha, where he met a man named Gatana (driving Kiratu’s vehicle, Reg. No. KBР 096W), a Honda CR-V, along with three unknown men. They proceeded to the church to familiarise themselves with the route before returning.”
Police say Kieru, under the instructions of Kiratu, drove his Subaru to the church in Mugutha in the company of the two unknown men who bundled the MP into the car and sped off.
“They drove towards Jacaranda Coffee Research via Kambogo Road, where the MP instructed them to stop near a waiting Honda CR-V (Reg. No. KBP 096W), belonging to Kiratu. Cyrus was left with the two men, who warned him not to disclose any information to the police,” police stated.
“Additionally, one suspect, Karanja Gatana, has been arrested. Gatana admitted to dropping the MP at a hotel where he had refreshments and spent the night with the two Abductors on 25 May 2025, following the alleged abduction.”
Police indicated that Gatana, on 26 May 2025, while using Kiratu’s vehicle, picked up the MP from the hotel and took him to the scene where they claimed he had been dumped.
“Before the MP exited the vehicle, he helped him tear his clothes to fake evidence of torture by the alleged abductors,” police said.
