Eyewitness accounts from Ellis Bar and Restaurant staff corroborate police claims that Juja MP staged his own kidnapping
Staff at Ellis Bar and Restaurant in Gatundu have provided damning testimony that appears to confirm police allegations that Juja MP George Koimburi staged his own abduction, spending Sunday night drinking and dining with friends at the establishment before leaving early Monday morning.
In exclusive interviews conducted at the hotel, workers detailed how the legislator arrived around lunchtime on Sunday with two male companions, consumed alcohol and food throughout the day, and retired to room one in the accommodation wing—directly contradicting claims that he was kidnapped and tortured by security forces.
The revelations come as Kenya continues to grapple with the explosive allegations surrounding Koimburi’s purported abduction on May 25.
What began as a story of political persecution has transformed into a tale of elaborate deception, according to police investigators and now corroborating witnesses.
“On that issue, it is true that the Juja MP slept here on Sunday,” one male staff member confirmed during the investigations. “When he came with his friends around lunch time, we did not think much about it because he was a customer just like the rest. They drank some alcohol and ate here the entire time before they retired to bed.”
The account paints a picture of leisure rather than terror—Koimburi and his associates enjoying a typical weekend at the rural establishment, unaware that their patron would soon claim to be the victim of state-sponsored violence.
Early morning departure
According to hotel staff, Koimburi departed the premises at approximately 6:30 AM on Monday morning, accompanied by the same two friends who had been with him throughout the previous day.
Hours later, he would be discovered unconscious at a coffee farm in Githunguri, setting off a chain of events that would captivate and divide the nation.
The timing of his departure is particularly significant, as it aligns with police claims that the MP orchestrated his own “discovery” to support the kidnapping narrative.
DCI boss Mohamed Amin revealed that investigators have been able to account for every movement from the church service attendance to the coffee farm discovery.
The hotel employees expressed anxiety about their involvement in what has become a highly politicized case.
“The supervisor who was here that Sunday was taken today (Wednesday) to record a statement. She is yet to come back. We just hope we are not in trouble with the government,” another staff member revealed.
Their concerns reflect the broader tensions surrounding the case, which has drawn support from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other political figures who initially rallied behind Koimburi’s claims of police brutality.
Police theory gains credibility
The staff testimonies lend substantial weight to the police narrative that Koimburi, facing potential arrest on land fraud charges, conspired with associates to stage an elaborate abduction.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin outlined two possible motives: avoiding arrest on pending charges and creating political tension through fear-mongering.
“We have two theories: one, the Member of Parliament was very privy to the fact that we were looking for him for two offences,” Amin explained during a press briefing.
“Besides that, we are also reading an element of politics to try to cause fear and anxiety in the country.”
Inspector General Douglas Kanja revealed that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged conspiracy, including three close associates who have reportedly confessed to their roles in the simulated abduction.
When pressed for CCTV footage that could provide definitive proof of Koimburi’s presence, hotel staff claimed the security cameras were not operational—a convenient gap that investigators will likely scrutinize as the case develops.
The absence of video evidence has not deterred police confidence in their theory.
According to their investigation, the staged abduction involved multiple vehicles and careful coordination, with Koimburi allegedly tearing his own shirt to simulate torture.
The case has exposed deep fissures in Kenya’s political landscape, with Koimburi’s allies maintaining his innocence while critics denounce what they see as a cynical manipulation of public sympathy.
The MP remains hospitalized at Karen Hospital, where police suggest he may be “enjoying his five-course meal” rather than recovering from genuine injuries.
DCI boss Amin expressed disbelief at the alleged deception: “It’s quite inconceivable for a Hon Member of Parliament to go to that extent of stage managing his own abduction, creating a lot of tension and fear in the country.”
As hotel staff continue to provide statements to investigators, Kenya finds itself grappling with uncomfortable questions about political theater and the lengths to which public figures might go to avoid accountability.
The contrast between Koimburi’s peaceful Sunday evening and his family’s claims of torture highlights the complex web of allegations and counter-allegations that have gripped the nation.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of truth in Kenya’s charged political environment, where competing narratives vie for public acceptance even as evidence slowly emerges to separate fact from fiction.
