An unidentified man lobbed teargas canisters at Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko’s while holding a rally at Ragana Ward in Suna West on Saturday, December 18.
The suspect then fled aboard a motorcycle after disrupting the rally as the Senator's aides fired gunshots in the air to scare him from further attacking the ODM politician.
Eyewitnesses narrated that the rally kicked off peacefully. Prior to Ayacko being asked to address the crowd, other local politicians had spoken and rooted for him to be the next governor of Migori County.
Minutes after the ODM Senator stepped up to the podium, the motorbike rider stormed into the rally, lobbed the teargas canisters and vanished.
Reports alleged that the event was unguarded. However, there were no clarifications on whether the organisers sought police orders to conduct the rally. Questions were also raised on whether police were deployed to the event or not.
Ayacko was, nonetheless, guarded by his security detail who acted swiftly to contain the situation. The bodyguards formed a human shield and whisked him away from the podium. No fatalities nor injuries were reported.
The Senator blamed the scuffle on his political enemies who he alleged were out to hamper his gubernatorial aspiration. Ayacko spoke after calm was restored.
“This is an extreme provocation that I cannot entertain going forward. My opponents have started feeling jittery and are out to stop our bid,” Ayacko complained.
“They have resorted to violence to paint us as warmongers. It is good they are sending early signals. I am urging all my supporters to exercise restraint going forward as no amount of intimidation will stop my quest to succeed Governor Okoth Obado,” he added.
Ayacko announced his gubernatorial candidature, stating that he was keen on succeeding the incumbent Migori Governor Okoth Obado in 2022. Obado second term will expire prior to the 2022 General Election.
The two faced each other in the 2017 General Election. Despite running on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket in a perceived stronghold, Ayacko lost to the incumbent governor, who went on to serve for a second term.
Ayacko would however get a lifeline in 2018 when he ran for Senator in a by-election occasioned by the death of the late Ben Omondi who passed away in June 2018. He is also a member of the Senate Committee on Finance and Budget.
Other aspirants seeking to succeed Obado include former Cabinet minister Dalmas Otieno, County Assembly Speaker Boaz Okoth, politician Mark Ogutu, Migori Woman Representative Pamela Odhiambo, former Migori MP John Pesa, businessmen Owiso Ngao, and Philip Mwabe.
