Bodyguards of four ODM legislators caught up in Friday chaos at a function in Siaya have recorded statements with the police.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday at his home in Malanga village, Alego-Usonga MP Samuel Atandi said the pilot of the chopper who ferried the lawmakers to the event, also recorded statements with DCI detectives as investigations into the incident begun.
Atandi, MPs Otiende Amolo (Rarieda), Aduma Owuor ( Nyakach) and senator James Orengo ( Siaya) were on Friday evening forced to flee after a scuffle broke out at a function at Bar Osimbo.
According to the MP, the chopper carrying his colleagues had just landed at Nyangaga primary school where he was inspecting a project when youths allied to a parliamentary aspirant attacked them.
"I was in the school to inspect the ongoing projects sponsored by CDF when the goons stormed the venue," he said.
Atandi dismissed claims doing rounds on social media that the political leaders were in his constituency to preside over a BBI function.
"Contrary some media reports, we were not there to talk about BBI. In fact, it is the crowd that demanded that my colleagues and I, led by senator Orengo address them," he said.
He said they were about to address the crowd when chaos erupted, forcing them to flee.
Otiende who spoke to the Star after the scuffle claimed rowdy youths, baying for Atandi's blood stoned the chopper as the leaders made their way out of the venue.
A security detail of one of the MPs was forced to fire in the air to scare the surging youths.
"We had to be evacuated from the scene by our bodyguards. Such act of hooliganism must be discouraged and condemned," he said, adding that violence had no place in the modern politics.
On Saturday, Atandi demanded arrest of the youths who caused chaos and asked the police to investigate parliamentary aspirant Kut Ochogo.
Speaking separately, Kut, who is eyeing Alego-Usonga parliamentary seat, distanced himself from the chaos. He said he was barred by Atandi from addressing the residents.
He claimed that he and the MPs met at the installation of an assistant chief from the area and not the school project as alleged by Atandi.
"We were at the ceremony and were invited to make speeches at the reception. It was at the reception that Atandi who was the MC refused to give me the microphone to address the guests," he said.
He claimed it was the decision by the MP to stop him from addressing the meeting that angered his supporters.
"Members of the public present at the event demanded that I be allowed to address them. They felt slighted by the action taken by the MP to deny me the chance to speak, " he said.
Siaya county criminal investigations officer Kennedy Nyanga confirmed that the probe into the incident was ongoing.
" The matter is already under probe by DCIO Siaya, " he said.
-Edited by SKanyara
