Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has announced a four-month sabbatical from Tangatanga - a political outfit allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
Speaking during a press briefing at his Nasianda home on Sunday, March 21, Barasa noted that his main agenda was to focus on developmental projects in Kimilili.
The news elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans, most of whom took to social media to share their views on the sudden development.
"Didmus Barasa is a coward man, you quit like a man, not giving excuses about taking a break!
"Kenyans, so our elected leaders require a break to learn our interests! Please let's keep our interests simple and stop giving our MPs mental challenges.
"How can an elected politician take a sabbatical from active politics? Not unless he is resigning," read some of the comments from Kenyans.
Barasa also unveiled his plan to unite the Western leaders together ahead of the 2022 General elections, in a bid to stake their claim in the political arena.
Among the leaders he plans to talk to include Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD Mukhisa Kituyi, and Ford-Kenya party leader Moses Wetang'ula.
He noted that the leaders from Western ought to speak in one voice for them to succeed in learning the interest and the will of the people.
The news comes just weeks after the lawmaker had a run in with authorities over his firearm license, which was reportedly revoked over misconduct and misuse of firearms during the Kabuchai MP by-election.
The Firearm Licensing Board issued a statement affirming that it had been directed by the Inspector General of the National Police service to revoke the licenses of Barasa and Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi.
The order was issued after Barasa and his Tangatanga counterpart were arrested for allegedly planing to cause violence during the elections.
The police officers affirmed that the two politicians were in possession of firearms in their vehicles. Barasa, however, denied the allegations stating that they had gone to supervise the elections as agents.
"We didn’t intimidate or threaten anyone. We were supervising election as agents when we were arrested,” said Barasa.
