Kisii Governor Simba Arati has stated that he will not meet with Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and National Assembly Chief Whip Sylvanus Osoro over recent incidents of violence in Kisii county.
CS Machogu had summoned the two leaders to a meeting on January 17 after violence broke out at two different rallies hosted by Governor Arati on January 6 and January 8.
He said local leaders had agreed to hold a consultative conference to resolve their differences.
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The Kisii boss has dismissed the reconciliation meeting, stating that Machogu is using MP Osoro to promote violence.
“The education cabinet secretary is believed to be behind these issues and so there is no way he can be a good arbiter. He just wants praise as the person who brought us together yet away from this, he is supporting Osoro to do these things,” Arati told Citizen TV’s Sema Na Citizen program on Tuesday.
“We can only talk about reconciliation if justice is served to those who were injured and everyone responsible for it is held to account. Osoro must be prosecuted.”
After being summoned by the education CS, South Mugirango MP and National Assembly Chief Whip Silvanus Osoro defended himself and accused Arati of instigating the violence.
This comes barely a week after the orange democratic party (ODM) called for the transfer of Kisii County Police Commander Charles Kasses, claiming the life of Simba Arati was in danger.
"The ODM party expresses serious concern about the life and safety of its National Vice-Chair and Kisii Governor Simba Arati following repeated violent attacks perpetrated by known persons in broad daylight with what appears to be tacit support and collaboration with elements in the security forces," he said.
"It turned out that those gunmen were police officers. One of the officers captured firing at the crowd with an AK47 rifle was identified as one Kevin Lagat of Force Number 26085, he is a police constable attached to Osoro," he added.
"Others are Simon Muriithi of force number 119319 and Peter Muge of force number 239197, all stationed at Nyanchwa Police Station. One officer, Morris Kiambi, is believed to have been ferried from his station of duty in Lang'ata, Nairobi to participate in the attacks. It is suspected that Lagat has been transferred to Parliament Police Station since that incident."
