Murang’a -It began with a dramatic disappearance.
Juja MP George Koimburi was said to have vanished outside a church in Mugutha, Kiambu County, on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Less than 24 hours later, he was found disoriented in a nearby coffee plantation.
Now, detectives say the whole thing was staged.
On Wednesday, police arrested Grace Nduta, a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) from Murang’a’s Kanyenyaini ward. Known in political circles by her nickname “City,” Nduta is suspected of helping orchestrate what investigators have called a “political performance.”
Her arrest follows the recovery of a Subaru Forester believed to have played a key role in the incident. According to police, the vehicle traced back to a political associate of Koimburi and a former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) agent was used to block the MP’s car moments before his supposed abduction.
“This is a major breakthrough in the investigation,” said Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga in a press briefing. “We believe the car was part of the obstruction that led to the staged scene.”
A motorbike allegedly used to ferry Koimburi from a safe house to the plantation is still being traced.
A Plot Unravels
When Koimburi was found early Monday morning, he appeared weak and distressed. But inconsistencies in the story quickly raised eyebrows.
Police said there were no signs of a struggle at the alleged abduction site. Surveillance footage and on-the-ground checks didn’t match the version circulating online.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja was blunt.
“There was no evidence of an abduction,” he said. “The area where the MP was allegedly taken from showed no disturbances. The terrain in the video does not match Mugutha.”
Authorities say the caretaker of the coffee farm where Koimburi was found, identified as Moses Kariuki, told officers he saw nothing unusual that night.
Further puzzling is the fact that Koimburi was driven to Karen Hospital in Nairobi in his own car. Police say he has since refused to record a statement or cooperate with investigations.
“His associates knew where to find him,” IG Kanja noted. “That’s highly suspicious.”
Political Undercurrents
Though authorities haven’t detailed a specific motive, the implication is clear this was political.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) believes the incident may have been staged to gain sympathy, shift narratives, or discredit rivals ahead of potential political manoeuvring.
Police sources said more arrests are likely as they dig deeper into communications between Nduta, Koimburi’s associates, and those linked to the recovered vehicle.
Analysts say the move could be a signal that law enforcement is taking a firmer stance against theatrics in politics. “Staging an abduction is not only unlawful,” said political analyst Dr. Wanjiru Kamau, “but deeply irresponsible in a country where political violence has real consequences.”
What Comes Next?
As detectives close in on others linked to the plot, the mystery of why a sitting MP would allegedly be involved in such a stunt remains.
Koimburi has not spoken publicly since the incident. His silence only deepens the intrigue.
The question now lingers: in an era where misinformation spreads fast and perception can win elections, how far are leaders willing to go?
