Armed GSU Officers Surround Governor Simba Arati's Office [PHOTOS]

A contingent of officers attached to the General Service Unit (GSU) surrounded the office of Kisii Governor Simba Arati at Gusii Stadium on Monday, October 30.

The officers also conducted a raid on the Ajiry Centre that the county uses for ICT training within the stadium premises.

Reports indicated that the officers had surrounded the office and cordoned off the area, blocking the Governor from accessing the stadium where he hosts a secondary office.

Armed GSU officers surround Kisii Governor Simba Arati's office at Gusii Stadium on October 30, 2023. /X

The GSU officers were ferried to the venue in a police truck accompanied by other police vehicles, with some reports claiming that they were acting on orders from above.

It was not however clear what their motivation to storm the office was, coming after Arati on Sunday, October 29 claimed that security officers wanted to raid his Motonto home and other premises at night.

While expressing his preference for investigations to be carried out during the day, the county boss in his speech pleaded with the national government not to deploy police officers to injure Kisii youth who rely on boda boda businesses to earn a living.

Arati also claimed that political leaders of national parties had become notorious for splitting the county's youth into two factions, thus frustrating efforts of the county government.

Armed GSU officers surround Kisii Governor Simba Arati's office at Gusii Stadium on October 30, 2023. /X

"The National Government, we complement each other. We have two governments, the national and county governments. These tendencies of dividing our youth on political lines should stop. All these people are my people," he told the congregation.

"We have 95,000 motorcycle riders but I implore them to ensure peace. If you send the police to injure our youth, we will not agree."

Reacting to the development, ODM's Director of Communications Philip Etale claimed that the Governor has not committed any crime. 

"Governor Simba Arati has not committed any crime, neither has he killed anyone. Why dispatch lorry loads of GSU officers to block him from accessing his place of work? Why send officers to his residence? If someone wants to be Governor, go to the people and not use police."

The raid comes after Arati and South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro clashed over the management of county resources, with Osoro demanding the governor to account for over Ksh13 billion allocated to the county by the national government.

Osoro had earlier downplayed reports of a planned GSU raid saying it would not happen.

A police truck parked outside Gusii Stadium on October 30, 2023. /X