Former Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama has been arrested during the ongoing parliamentary by-election in Msambweni. 

Muthama was arrested on Tuesday and taken to Port Police Station for allegedly ‘causing disturbance’ during the ongoing voting.  

The former strong defender of ODM leader Raila Odinga and Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has confirmed his arrest on his twitter account but claims innocence. 

He posted, “I have just been arrested with no cause in Diani, Mswambeni and currently been booked at KPA police station. I have numerously been asking the officer why am being arrested, ‘orders from above!’” 


Muthama has been linked to chaos that erupted at the Jomo Kenyatta Primary School polling station in Msambweni, coming hours after Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff also clashed with his Nyali colleague Mohammed Ali in Msambweni. 

The political contest between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake mate Odinga and their Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) on one side and Deputy President William Ruto and his allies on the other is playing out in the Msambweni by-election.  

The parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of Suleiman Dori eight months ago and ODM candidate Omar Boga is facing off with Ruto-backed independent candidate Feisal Bader.