Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. Photo Gov Press. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has declared that the opposition will not be intimidated into silence following the arrest and subsequent release of Wiper MCA Albanus Wambua, popularly known as Kanzala Kana.
Mutula condemned Kana’s arrest, terming it harassment and an attempt to intimidate political leaders who criticise the government and its officials.
The governor said Kana was arrested shortly after attending a function in Matiliku, where they had distributed support items to churches, including gas cylinders, tents, chairs and cooking utensils.
According to Mutula, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were present at the function and later pursued Kana after he left the venue.
He claimed the MCA was intercepted near Kikuu River, arrested and taken to Nairobi.
Mutula said Kana’s lawyers later appeared before the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who declined to approve the charges that had been prepared against him.
“The DPP has found no charge against Kanzala Kana and has refused to take him to court,” Mutula said.
He added that the DPP had also questioned the legality of the arrest and rejected the proposed charge, which was linked to alleged hate speech following a complaint reportedly lodged by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.
Mutula said Kana was subsequently returned to Muthaiga Police Station, where he was unbooked and released.
The governor commended the DPP for what he described as standing firm in defence of the law, saying the decision demonstrated that independent state institutions could still protect citizens from abuse of power.
“I want to thank the DPP for standing firm with the law, and condemn the use of police and DCI to harass people who they think don't agree with them,” Mutula said.
He warned that attempts to use police arrests to silence political opponents would not stop the opposition from holding the government accountable.
“That era of just using police aimlessly to harass political opponents is gone,” he said.
Mutula reminded President William Ruto of the promise made during his campaign to promote political tolerance and ensure that security agencies would not be used as instruments of political repression.
He urged the police to remain professional and stay out of political contests, saying politicians should be allowed to engage in political discourse without intimidation.
“What has happened to Muheshimiwa Kana is harassment. But we thank the DPP for refusing to be used politically to charge Muheshimiwa Kana again,” Mutula said.
The governor further cited what he described as a pattern of arrests of opposition politicians that ended without charges.
He recalled the arrest of Wiper politician Ngovi, who he said was arrested while attending a function in Wote before being released without being charged.
Mutula also referred to Kana’s previous arrest, claiming the MCA was transported for several days towards Tanzania before being released without charges.
He argued that such incidents amounted to police harassment rather than legitimate law enforcement.
Despite the arrests, Mutula maintained that opposition leaders would continue challenging the national government and UDA officials on matters affecting Kenyans.
He said political intimidation would not silence dissent, insisting that the opposition would continue exercising its constitutional right to criticise the government and demand accountability.
“The opposition will not stop calling out the national government and UDA officials,” Mutula said.
