Juja MP George Koimburi is recovering at the Karen Hospital following an alleged abduction that left him badly tortured and unable to speak. According to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, doctors suspect the MP was injected or exposed to a chemical substance that has affected his vocal cords.

Speaking during a visit to the hospital on Monday, May 26, 2025, Gachagua claimed Koimburi was abducted in broad daylight outside a church, before being beaten, tortured, and later dumped in a coffee plantation in Kibichoi, Githunguri Constituency.

“He was found with severe soft tissue injuries, consistent with professional torture,” Gachagua stated. “Doctors confirmed that a chemical—administered possibly through inhalation—damaged his vocal cords. He currently cannot speak and can only communicate through writing.”

Koimburi, a known ally of Gachagua, reportedly recounted his ordeal in writing, unable to verbalize what he endured. The medical team attending to him is working to reverse the effects of the suspected chemical exposure and restore his voice.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, police have distanced themselves from the incident. Authorities have suggested the possibility that the MP may have staged the abduction, linking the matter to an ongoing investigation involving a land dispute.

An officer involved in the case revealed that a failed arrest attempt had occurred on Friday, when a team tried to apprehend Koimburi as he left an event in Juja. The MP allegedly fled on a motorcycle with a bodyguard, while his driver was arrested and later questioned.

The MP’s mobile phone had reportedly been switched off since the Friday incident until his discovery on Monday morning—nearly 12 hours after friends and family reported him missing. Witnesses who found him at the Jacaranda coffee plantation called for help, after which he was rushed to hospital.

Investigators have since launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, the alleged torture, and the chemical exposure. Samples have been sent to various laboratories for analysis.

Police have also visited the church where Koimburi was last seen, the scene of his alleged abduction, the plantation where he was found, and medical facilities he passed through before admission at Karen Hospital.

Gachagua has condemned the incident, describing it as part of a broader political persecution targeting opposition figures. The government has yet to release an official statement on the matter.