Wanted Didmus Barasa Tweets After Retaining Seat
The MP and his competitors however did not show up for the vote-tallying process before the returning officer announced the results.
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Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa was re-elected after garnering 26,861 votes in the August 9 general elections, despite being on the run since the night of the polls.
Barasa, who vied on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, beat his rival, Brian Khaemba of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-Kenya) who got 9,497 votes.
The MP and his competitors however did not show up for the vote-tallying process before the returning officer announced the results. The seat had also attracted Peter Makokha of ODM and Erastus Muchimudi of Jubilee.
Didmus Barasa queues to vote in the August 9, 2022 elections. /DIDMUS BARASA
"Thank you the great people of Kimilili Constituency for re-electing me overwhelmingly for another term. I love you to bits," he tweeted on Thursday morning, August 11.
Media reports indicated that heavy security was deployed at St Luke's Kimilili Boys High School, with police ready to arrest the legislator in the event he showed up.
A section of residents defended the MP over the shooting, saying the legislator acted in self-defence.
Barasa has been on the run following a shooting incident at Chebukhwabi Primary School polling station in Kibingei ward that left Khaemba's aide dead.
He was handed a deadline of 24 hours to surrender by Bungoma County Commissioner Samuel Kimiti, appealing to members of the public to alert the police in case they spot him.
The matter also attracted the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Noordin Haji, who directed the necessary security agencies to track down and arrest him.
"DPP, Noordin Haji, has given directions to have Didimus Barasa apprehended, record a statement and have the relevant file availed to his office for appropriate action. Barasa, who is the incumbent MP, Kimilili Constituency, was reported to have shot and killed Brian Olunga, on 9th Aug. 2022 at Chebukwabi Polling Station.
"Olunga was a bodyguard to Brian Khaemba, who was Barasa's opponent in the elections. According to police in Bungoma, the MP is still at large and his phone is switched off," read a statement from Haji's ODPP office in part.
Barasa resurfaced on social media an hour before the announcement with the caption “Masaa ndio machache (Time is short)....” under a photo of him and Deputy President William Ruto.
He then tweeted a statement reading "Tick! Tock! The Clock Is Ticking, William Ruto the 5th."
Didmus Barasa with Deputy President William Ruto. /TWITTER
