Gunshots Fired During Governor Simba Arati's Event [VIDEO]
Etale in a statement accused South Mugirango Member of Parliament Silvanus Osoro of disrupting the event in the company of goons.
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![Gunshots Fired During Governor Simba Arati's Event [VIDEO]](https://viraltea.co.ke/uploads/images/2024/01/image_750x_659c069c078fa.jpg)
Kisii Governor Simba Arati’s bursary distribution event in Waitanga, South Mugirango was disrupted on Monday, January 8 after gunshots were fired in the air, scaring away the attendees.
In a video shared by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications Director Philip Etale and seen by Viral Tea, the governor as usual was addressing the county residents before commotion was witnessed in the background.
Amidst Arati's pleas to stop whoever was causing the fracas, the crowd at the back fled in different directions before the shots were fired, halting the meeting as the rest of the locals who had come to receive bursaries from the Kisii Governor scampered to safety.
Etale in a statement accused South Mugirango Member of Parliament Silvanus Osoro of disrupting the event in the company of goons.
Here is the video:
The government of Kenya should tell Kenyans if what happened in South Mugirango in Kisii today during Governor @SimbaArati’s meeting with parents of needy children is justified. Why would an MP storm a meeting and his bodyguards start firing at wananchi? Be the judge… pic.twitter.com/kOEz2ugohM — Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) January 8, 2024
“Shots fired at crowds by goons in the company of a Member of Parliament at Waitang’a in South Mugirango moments ago where Governor Simba Arati was distributing bursary cheques to needy students.
"This is very unfortunate. Such things shouldn’t be condoned by KK govt,” he stated.
He added that several people were reportedly injured in the fracas which he condemned in the strongest terms.
"This should be condemned by all and sundry. Kisii should not be turned into a battlefield for settling political scores. The people of this great County want service delivery and not battles for political supremacy," he added.
Etale earlier reacted to reports of local administration officers in Kisii receiving warning letters from senior government officials after attending the meeting held at Arati's home.
While lamenting that the act is unconstitutional and likely to create a rift between the two levels of government, he wrote "This is serious, I thought the Constitution says the National Govt and County Government are interdependent under Article 6 (2). Chiefs meeting Governor Simba Arati has become a crime."
The over 300 administrators who were invited by the county chief to his rural home in Motonto, Bobasi Constituency, to discuss the mass distribution of mosquito nets and disbursement of bursaries to poor children, were reported to have received the warning letters.
“Reference is made to the above subject matter. It has come to my attention that you were absent from duty on December 29, 2023, without permission which is contrary to our work ethics. Secondly, you flouted direct orders and directives which required you to be in your work station during the festive season, ensuring that your station is effectively manned according to the Principal Secretary Internal Security and National Administration," read one of the letters as reported by the Nation.
“The purpose of this letter is to warn you of your actions and that severe consequences of not adhering to the directives will be imposed on you in carrying yourself outside your mandate.”
In another letter, the chiefs were informed regarding the Kenya Kwanza government's reminder regarding National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) sticking only to administrative and security matters and not being involved in politics, with disciplinary measures vowed on any NGAO officer violating the established guidelines and protocols.
Viral Tea was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the letters by the time of publication.
Arati is affiliated with ODM, a party arm of the Azimio la Umoja coalition. This is the second disruption of gatherings in a day after Azimio supporters were tear-gassed while celebrating Raila Odinga’s 79th birthday party in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome thereafter reprimanded the officers and ordered stern action taken against them.
