Osoro, Arati in blame game over Kisii violence

By Peter Ochieng

Kisii governor Paul Simba Arati and South Mugirango Member of Parliament (MP) Sylvanus Osoro are blaming each other, after a meeting that was being presided over by the county chief was interrupted by gunshots.

The two politicians have always been at loggerheads since Arati's time as Dagoretti North MP, with their meetings ending in confrontations.

And on Monday, the first term governor's meeting in South Mugirango ended prematurely, after gunshots rent the air when Arati was just about to address the gathering.

Over five people got various injuries as locals ran for dear life.

Arati blames the outspoken MP for the violence. "Are we really in a law abiding country?" he wondered while addressing the press, after the guns went silent.

Osoro, in a separate address to journalists rubbished accusations of having a hand in the chaos.

He instead accused the governor's security detail of allegedly 'commandeering' his car mounted with speakers occasioning the fracas.

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

According to the MP, the fight broke out after his supporters went for his car at the governor's rally.

"It was after they had failed that I went to secure the release of my car. I think it was at that point that skirmishes erupted," he added.

The majority chief whip said two of his staff were injured during the fracas.

On the other hand, Arati said that four people, believed to be his supporters were caught in the drama, and are nursing gunshot wounds.

Various vehicles were also destroyed. Police in Kisii have launched investigations into the matter.