Narok Senator Ledama Olekina now says he is lucky to be alive after an ugly encounter at Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 15, 2022.
The outspoken lawmaker was among leaders who sustained injuries in the chaos that erupted at the national tallying centre, moments before the announcement of the presidential results.
Ledama and a section of leaders from the Azimio One Kenya coalition had stormed the podium in an attempt to stop Wafula Chebukati, the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), from declaring the results. They claimed the election had been rigged in favour of Kenya Kwanza Alliance leader William Ruto.
A fierce confrontation ensued between the Azimio leaders and their Kenya Kwanza Alliance counterparts forcing police to intervene and whisk Chebukati and other IEBC officials away.
Ledama Olekina rescued
Recounting the events of the fateful day, the senator alleged that he was brutally assaulted by supporters of Ruto and elected MPs allied to the Kenya Kwanza camp, escaping death by a whisker.
He was rescued by General Service Unit (GSU) officers deployed to quell the situation.
“I was brutally assaulted by William Ruto supporters most of them elected members of parliament at Bomas of Kenya shouting kill him, kill him. The GSU protected me otherwise I would have been killed,” Ledama said in a tweet on Friday.
“Thank you National Police Service I am grateful to everyone who has called to check on me!” He added.
I was brutally assaulted by @WilliamsRuto supporters most of them elected members of parliament at Bomas of Kenya shouting kill him kill him.The GSU protected me otherwise I would have been killed. Thank you @NPSOfficial_KE I am grateful to everyone who has called to check on me!
— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) August 19, 2022
The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed on Wednesday that investigations into the Bomas fracas are ongoing.
The police said they are in possession of CCTV footage from the tallying centre to help with the investigations.
“On the second incident which involved fracas at the IEBC National Tallying Centre-Bomas, police are seized of the matter and pursuing investigation. CCTV files have been collected and forwarded for further forensic analysis to aid investigation,” NPS tweeted.
IEBC officials injured in Bomas
Two IEBC commissioners and CEO were injured in the melee, Chebukati said on Monday.
While alleging intimidation from some quarters, the IEBC boss said the three officials were rushed to a city hospital moments after the violence broke out.
“We have walked the journey of ensuring Kenyans get free, fair and credible elections. It’s not been an easy journey. Right now two of my commissioners and the CEO are injured; we have staff who have been profiled. There is a staff member who disappeared while on duty. We have staff who have been arbitrarily arrested for no reason and I don’t know where they are at the moment,” Chebukati said.
“We have a constitutional duty to perform and that is why I stand before you here today despite intimidation and harassment. I took an oath of office to serve this country and I have done my duty in accordance with the constitution and the laws of the land.”
