Juja MP George Koimburi staged a daring escape on a motorbike to evade what appeared to be an imminent rearrest by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives.
The incident unfolded on Thursday, February 20, outside the Kiambu Law Courts where he was addressing the media.
Flanked by his supporters and other politicians outside the courthouse, Koimburi was mid-statement when chaos erupted.
Videos circulating online capture the moment as chants of solidarity filled the air, Koimburi suddenly broke away from the crowd, darted toward a waiting motorbike, and sped off.
Koimburi was arrested on Tuesday, February 18, outside his residence on Kenyatta Road in Juja.
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He was subsequently taken to the DCI headquarters for questioning before being arraigned at the Kiambu Law Courts on Wednesday, February 19.
The charges against him include six counts related to forging academic certificates—allegations dating back as far as 1994—as well as submitting falsified documents to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in 2021.
Koimburi pleaded not guilty and was released on a Ksh 200,000 cash bail.
However, come Thursday, the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) opposed Koimburi's temporary release.
Appearing in court on Thursday, February 20, prosecutors expressed that the MP was likely to abscond court dates.
According to the ODPP, the UDA lawmaker had previously absconded court, prompting a warrant of arrest to be issued in 2022.
"In an application filed at a Kiambu court supported by an affidavit from an Inspector of Police attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Serious Crime Unit, the DPP argued that the lawmaker was initially charged with forging academic certificates and absconded court on six occasions.
"Prosecution Counsels Evelyn Onunga and Benjamin Kelwon told the court the legislator failed to adhere to the terms and conditions of the bail and the court ordered for the forfeiture of his cash bail of Ksh100,000," read the statement in part.
The court is set to rule on the bail application on Tuesday, February 25.
