UDA MP Survives Attempt By Thugs To Kill Him

Mt Elgon Member of Parliament (MP) Fred Kapondi, who was elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, revealed that he survived an assassination attempt on Thursday evening, August 10.

He was speaking to the press in Bungoma Town which witnessed a shooting incident, condemning the brazen attempt on his life by those who had a bad intention.

The lawmaker, who was accompanied by his wife, revealed that he had just left a bank where he withdrew some money and had parked his car at Khetias supermarket in Bungoma for shopping.

He claimed that the thieves had allegedly followed him after he exited the bank.

DCI officers conducting forensic analysis on MP Fred Kapondi's car on August 11, 2023. /PHOTO

"What happened to me is shocking. They seem to have been on my trail for quite some time and had observed my movements," he recounted.

Kapondi further noted that it was while in the supermarket that the thugs shot at his car and escaped with his Ksh200,000.

"If you asses how the bullet hit my car, you will realize that those people shot where I had seated because I'm the one who was driving the car," he added.

The MP who was in the company of former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati further noted that the thugs had allegedly targeted where he was seating inside the car, with the intention of killing him.

Kapondi expressed his shock at being a victim of a daring incident he said he has never heard of before, though he assured that he filed a police report on the matter and asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to expedite the probe.

"Police have taken over the matter. They have assessed the damage to my car and we are waiting for their verdict," he updated.

Wanagamti also condemned the incident and called for a probe to ascertain what happened as well as the intention of the shooting.

Bungoma County police Francis Kooli however turned the tables by stating that police had not found any evidence of shooting in the case, alluding to preliminary findings that showed that a gang that had been trailing Kapondi broke into his car and stole an unknown amount of money before escaping.

“They broke the car’s door and picked up what looked like an envelope containing money. But before they could go further, a crowd noticed their activities and raised alarm prompting them to escape the scene,” he said.

He explained that Kapondi had arrived in the town and went to a bank and withdrew an unknown amount of money before driving to Khetia Supermarket for shopping.

“He parked on the roadside where another salon car that had been trailing him probably from the bank parked behind his. He then left for the supermarket giving the suspects a chance to break the door.

"The gang drove and blocked his car’s door when one of them broke the lock and accessed the driver’s seat. They escaped as a crowd surged to where they were, said Kooli.

Kapondi rushed to the car and saw the car leave. The same car had apparently been seen near the bank where Kapondi was minutes earlier.

Kooli however noted that a team of detectives is pursuing the gang behind the incident, adding that no injuries were reported and they are yet to establish claims of shooting.

“The MP was not at the scene and the target was the money he had withdrawn if any,” said Kooli.

An image of a man brandishing a pistol. /FILE