Evance Kawala alias Kidero Jasuba was not abducted as reported by Siaya Governor James Orengo.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), its detectives arrested Kawala, a vocal champion of the Jacaranda Bunge La Mwananchi, after he made inflammatory public utterances that have gone viral across social media platforms.

The investigative agency says that the content of Kawala’s utterances are highly inciteful and a serious threat to public cohesion and national stability.

This development comes hours after Governor Orengo had alleged that government operatives had abducted Kawala simply for “speaking truth to power”.

​”To the Bunge La Mwananchi family: stay firm. We are actively on this case and will see it through to the end.​ Oppression only signals a government’s weakness,” Orengo had written on X, formerly Twitter, calling for his immediate release. “You can abduct a critic, but you cannot chain the spirit of defiance. We demand his immediate and unconditional release!”

However, the DCI says they arrested the 33-year-old suspect at the Shujaa Mall area in Kayole, following a well-coordinated operation by detectives from the Operations Support Unit (OSU).

“He is currently in custody undergoing processing pending arraignment,” the DCI says.

The DCI has further cautioned members of the public against making public utterances or disseminating content that incites violence, spreads hatred, or undermines peace and national unity.

“Such acts amount to serious offences, and those found culpable will face firm legal action in accordance with the law.”