MP Osoro, Arati fault each other over Kisii rally violence

The rally held in South Muguirango led to four being injured, according to Governor Arati.

In Summary
  • Osoro, in an address to journalists, rubbished accusations that he had orchestrated the raid that led to the injury of four of Arati's supporters.
  • Instead, he accused the governor's security detail of early 'commandeering his car mounted with speakers occasioning the skirmishes'.
South Mugirango MP Sylivanus Osoro, Education CS nominee Ezekiel Machogu and Kisii Governor Simba Arati at a past event
South Mugirango MP Sylivanus Osoro, Education CS nominee Ezekiel Machogu and Kisii Governor Simba Arati at a past event
Image: MAGATI OBEBO

South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro and Kisii County Governor Simba Arati on Monday traded words after a raid in the county chief's rally.

Osoro, in an address to journalists, rubbished accusations that he had orchestrated the raid that led to the injury of four of Arati's supporters.

Instead, he accused the governor's security detail of early 'commandeering his car mounted with speakers occasioning the skirmishes'.

The Majority Whip said he was presiding over an education function at the CDF offices when he was informed about the incident.

"I was not near then. I was about to head out to launch road construction work at Nyakembene when I heard that one of my cars had been commandeered off," he stated.

He said that it was when his supporters went for the car at the governor's rally that the fight began resulting in the injury of his driver and one other staffer.

The fracas, he added, was the aftermath of the agitation to have the car released back to them.

"It was after they had failed that I went to secure the release of my car," he stated.

" I think it was at that point that skirmishes erupted," he told journalists.

He said the car was vandalized when recovered.

He also accused Arati of orchestrating the destruction of the cars and the subsequent injury of two of his staff.

The duo were rushed to Nyamarambe Level Five Hospital for treatment.

Arati separately accused Osoro of unleashing terror on his supporters during the rally Monday afternoon

The Star counted at least ten gunshots during the incident.

Scores who had turned up were forced to run for safety.

Arati said four people sustained gunshot injuries during the raid.

Arati said he had filed the report of the attack on his rally and urged his supporters to remain calm.

Several cars in the motorcade were also stoned during the melee.

It was not immediately known who fired the bullets injuring four.

Both the governor and Majority Whip are accorded government security.

The incident comes seven months after the governor was forced to flee from a burial in the same region.

He fled in a Probox.

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