The government has formed a team to investigate and bring to book perpetrators of violent incidents in Kisii County.
In a statement after an early morning briefing with the County, Sub-County and Divisional security heads from the entire Kisii County, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki directed law enforcers to prioritise preventive measures in the county.
“The Government has made personnel changes and a special team has been deployed to investigate and bring to account, organisers, financiers, and perpetrators of violent criminal incidents recently witnessed in parts of Kisii County,” Kindiki stated.
“Security agencies are directed to prioritise preventive security and enforce the law firmly and without regard to the political affiliation or social rank of lawbreakers.”
Kindiki says security managers across the country have been given performance targets to meet, and periodic reviews will be carried out to ensure continuous upgrading of service delivery.
This comes a fortnight after Kisii Governor Simba Arati engaged in a heated public debate with Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu over the newly appointed Kisii County Commissioner Joseph Kibet.
The two leaders clashed sharply while blaming each other for funding violence in the county during the funeral of slain Kisii National Polytechnic principal Daniel Nyaribo.
The county boss accused Kibet of being biased claiming the administrator has been favouring Kenya Kwanza leaders in the region causing Machogu to engage.
On his part, the education CS accused Arati of misusing the youth in the county to heckle leaders at funerals.
This was after Machogu was heckled while reading a speech by President William Ruto.
“Hii mambo 500/400 inazungushwa ni upumbavu. Tutasimamisha hii ushenzi,” Machogu said before leaving the podium without inviting Arati.
In his address, the county boss told off the CS saying; “Ukiona hii kelele yote, ni wezi ambao tumekanyanga pipe walikua wananyonya. Huyu County commissioner haezi tisha sisi.”
Arati clashes with Osoro in Kisii
On January 8, 2024, South Mugirango Member of Parliament Silvanus Osoro was reported to have stormed Arati’s meeting at Nyakembeni market, where several people were injured after shots were fired.
Security teams were forced to lob teargas canisters to disperse the residents after a confrontation ensued between persons believed to be supporters of Arati and the area MP.
Several people were injured and property of unknown value, including vehicles, was destroyed in the fracas.
Governor Arati blamed Osoro and security personnel for the chaos, calling on the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to probe the violence.
“I am told a number of those gunshots, including one that hit one of the guys on the left ear, were aimed at me,” Arati claimed.
Osoro, on his part, dismissed the claims that he had a hand in the violence. He dismissed the drama as a ploy by the governor to gain political sympathy.
“It’s an unfortunate scene. We need to be politically tolerant and understand that campaigns are very far,” Osoro said.
Machogu’s reconciliation meeting fails
In January, Machogu planned a multi-sectoral consultative meeting to address escalating insecurity in the County and also reconcile Arati and Osoro.
However, Arati said he would not attend the meeting, saying that the CS has not embraced him as the duly elected governor.
“I defeated him and President William Ruto appointed him as Cabinet Secretary,” Arati said at Nyansakia Catholic church, Bomachoge Chache Constituency during the Silver Jubilee celebration for Sister Mary Margaret graced by Bishop Joseph Mairura.
He alleged that Machogu was aware of those who had planned chaos at Nyakembene market, Boikanga Ward in South Mugirango in which gunmen shot at a crowd he was addressing and injured locals.
“Let the law take its course. Even in Somalia where there is no government, shots are not fired haphazardly except by Alshabaab,“ Arati said.
Kindiki has not issued timelines within which the team should conclude their investigations.
