Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ando has raised alarm over the heightened insecurity in his constituency, which is particularly directed at him.
During a press conference at his home on Sunday, the MP narrated several instances where he and his team had been harassed when attending funeral ceremonies.
In one of these notable instances, MP Ong’ando relayed that the tyres of his V8 vehicle had been slashed and two of his staff members sustained non-fatal knife injuries.
“Before the latest attack, I went to a funeral in Got Nyango where after the funeral, the road was blocked and I could not pass. Luckily, I had the security details in tow that saved the situation,” the MP said.
The day after the attack, he remembered his supporters and those of his competitor Philiph Aroko clashing upon his arrival at another funeral. Before prayers were offered, the MP recalled one man shouting that he should not be allowed to speak.
Subsequently, chaos broke out among the mourners and what followed is now with the investigative agencies. He refused to address the clash.
Further, the lawmaker narrated another incident that happened last year at a funeral, saying, "Mid-last year, I was attacked at a funeral at Kolando even before I made my speech. The records are with the police and action is in progress because issues which involve political attacks have to go through the process."
This attack is also currently being investigated by police officers although no arrests have been made yet.
Over the past six months, he revealed that he has secretly dealt with the attacks but felt it was time to finally tell the public what has been going on.
In a damning revelation, the MP said that the attacks were being carried out by youths from outside of his constituency.
He provided a list of 12 youths suspected to have carried out these attacks claiming they were drawn from Homabay town constituency, Ndhiwa constituency, Rangwe constituency, Karachuonyo constituency, and others from Kisii and Nairobi Counties.
Some of these youths, MP Ong’ando said, were actively engaged with other politicians.
Although he believes some of his political rivals were responsible for the attacks, he noted that both the 2017 and 2022 general elections went relatively smoothly without violence whatsoever.
This assertion made the MP believe that the violence is being fueled by a crop of aspiring politicians in the area.
Rachuonyo South Police Commander Philiph Saera confirmed that all the attacks had been reported and said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has already recommended action on some of them.
