Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni has come out guns blazing, accusing the state of weaponizing the police service to settle political scores following the dramatic arrest of Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi.

In a fiery press address that has raised the political temperature in Gusii land, the Senior Counsel termed the arrest "an abduction disguised as law enforcement." Kibagendi was reportedly picked up by plainclothes officers in what Omogeni describes as a return to the dark days of detention without trial.

"We Will Not Be Cowed"

"You cannot arrest an elected leader like a common criminal on the streets of Nairobi without procedure," Omogeni thundered. The Senator linked the arrest to Kibagendi’s recent vocal criticism of government policy, suggesting a sinister motive to silence dissenting voices.

• The Context: This incident adds fuel to the "abductions" narrative that has plagued the current administration. Opposition leaders argue that the DCI is being used as a political tool, a claim the government vehemently denies.
• The Legal Angle: As a seasoned lawyer, Omogeni challenged the grounds of the detention. "If he has broken the law, summon him. Do not waylay him," he argued, invoking Article 49 of the Constitution on the rights of arrested persons.

The Gusii Factor

The arrest has potential ramifications for the fragile political alliances in the Nyanza region. By targeting a vocal Gusii MP, the state risks alienating a key voting bloc. Omogeni’s intervention is calculated to rally the community, framing the issue as an attack on "one of our own."

As Kibagendi’s legal team scrambles for his release, the message from Senator Omogeni is clear: the opposition is watching, and the gloves are off. In Kenya’s rough-and-tumble politics, the line between prosecution and persecution is often dangerously thin.