The alleged abduction and torture of Juja Member of Parliament, George Koimburi, on or around Sunday, May 25, 2025, has ignited a political firestorm in Kenya, with opposition leaders and the National Police Service (NPS) offering sharply conflicting accounts. Koimburi was reportedly found in a distressed state in a coffee plantation after attending a church service, an incident opposition figures describe as a severe escalation of political repression, while police suggest it may have been self-staged.

Opposition leaders, including Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua, Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, and former Cabinet Secretaries Justin Muturi and Mithika Linturi, strongly condemned the incident. Speaking at Karen Hospital on Monday, May 26, 2025, where Koimburi was receiving treatment, they decried it as an assault on democracy and freedom of expression, aimed at silencing critics of President William Ruto’s administration. Kalonzo Musyoka dismissed police claims that Koimburi staged his own abduction as "outrageous" and "evil," emphasizing the MP was lucky to be alive.

In a joint statement, the opposition leaders asserted that Koimburi was kidnapped and tortured, fitting a broader pattern of intimidation. They pointed to other recent events, such as the violent dispersal of a DAP-K event in Kakamega and heavy police response to protests in Bungoma over Nzoia Sugar Company, as evidence of a systematic effort to suppress dissent. Alarm was also raised over the recent deaths of two Catholic priests under questionable circumstances and alleged complicity of telecommunications companies in unlawful surveillance and abductions, urging them to clarify their data practices.

Conversely, the National Police Service, through Inspector-General Douglas Kanja, presented a different narrative. In statements issued around May 26 and May 28, 2025, the NPS denied involvement and suggested Koimburi might have faked the abduction. Kanja revealed that Koimburi was already under investigation for land fraud, with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) having consented to his prosecution. According to the IG, Koimburi had evaded arrest on May 23, 2025, by fleeing on a motorcycle after switching off his phone, while his official vehicle and driver were intercepted.

The police launched a comprehensive investigation, dispatching officers and a specialised forensic team from the DCI Headquarters to the alleged scene. However, initial findings reported discrepancies: the vegetation and road dimensions in a viral video claiming to show the MP at the coffee plantation did not match the actual scene, which is reportedly owned by businessman Jimmy Wanjigi. The farm's caretaker, Moses Kariuki, stated he had not witnessed any such incident. Police also noted that Koimburi's family had reportedly delayed access to him for an interview. The vehicle that transported him to Plainview Hospital in Ruiru was confirmed to be his own, driven by Frida Njeri, the first responder.

Further complicating the police narrative, Senator Joe Nyutu of Murang'a questioned why Koimburi would stage his abduction for sympathy when no election was imminent. Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera also raised questions, asking why Koimburi's security was allegedly withdrawn at the time of the abduction and why police would allow him to "abduct himself" if he was within their reach.

The investigation intensified with the arrest of Cyrus Kieru Muhia, a close associate of Koimburi, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Muhia is reportedly the owner of a Subaru Forester vehicle alleged to have been used to block the MP, leading to the purported abduction. Detectives are also searching for a bodaboda allegedly involved in transporting the MP to the coffee plantation. The NPS has reiterated its commitment to a thorough investigation and has urged the public to provide any relevant information.