Didmus Barasa Claims Someone Tried To Kill Him
Barasa, who has been on the run since the evening of the elections on Tuesday, August 9, turned himself in after allegedly killing an opponent's aide
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UPDATE 11.55 am: Didmus Barasa has said that he had driven all the way from Nairobi to the Bungoma police station to surrender himself to the police, denying reports that he was spotted in Uganda.
While addressing the media, the legislator-elect noted that he survived an assassination attempt on Sunday, August 7 on the same night his private bodyguard was attacked.
"I went to Nairobi so that the court can give anticipatory bail. I saw on TV or regional police commander asking me to surrender and I drove all the way from Nairobi ready to cooperate with the police.
"On Sunday night, my private bodyguard was attacked badly and he was in a coma for three days and he was on life care. the same night I survived an assassination attempt," he said.
Barasa further noted that he had not given any written permission to anyone to collect his certificate after he retained his seat in the August 9 polls.
Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Didmus Barasa has surrendered himself at the Bungoma police station.
Barasa, who has been on the run since the evening of the elections on Tuesday, August 9, turned himself in after allegedly killing an opponent's aide during an altercation at Chebukhwabi Primary School polling station in Kibingei ward.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had given Barasa six hours to surrender to the nearest police station with the agency deploying an elite team to assist security officers on the ground in the manhunt.
"Hon Barasa is wanted for the cold-blooded murder of Brian (Olunga), whom he shot on the forehead killing him on the spot, on Tuesday, August 8, at Chebukwabi in Kimilili, Bungoma county.
"A specialized team of sleuths based from the elite Crime Research & Intelligence Bureau and the Homicide department has been dispatched to augment the teams on the ground for his manhunt," stated the DCI in part.
The investigating agency further warned that serious action would be taken against any person/s found to be harbouring the murder suspect.
However, the legislator, through his lawyer, John Khaminwa, moved to court seeking anticipatory bail prior to his arrest.
Khaminwa, in court papers filed at the High Court in Milimani, Nairobi, had sought to block the DCI and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from arresting his client, adding that investigations have not been done yet.
The legislator was labelled as the perpetrator in the murder of the aide of his opponent, Brian Khaemba of the Democratic Action Party (DAP-K).
"Barasa has been branded a murderer without due process being followed thus prejudicing his right to a fair trial...hence the need for the court to grant him bail pending arrest," Khaminwa begged. He also wanted his client's application certified as urgent.
"No preliminary investigations have been undertaken but he has been branded as the perpetrator. Due to the negative publicity, he is wary of his safety and hence the need for the court to grant him bail pending arrest. He is fearful that if he is not granted bail, his security will be at risk."
The lawmaker, who vied on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, beat his opponent, 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.
IEBC Kimilili Returning Officer George Omondi said that the MP had to present himself at the tallying centre in person to get his certificate.
Barasa resurfaced on social media following the shooting incident 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."
"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 following his re-election.
Didmus Barasa queues to vote in the August 9, 2022 elections. /DIDMUS BARASA
