Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has changed his tune over the stoning of a chopper carrying former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the burial of mzee Jackson Kibor in Uasin Gishu County a week ago.
While appearing on KTN News on Wednesday, April 6, the governor claimed that he was not aware that the ODM leader would attend the event until he arrived at 5:30 p.m.
His comments were a departure from his earlier assertion that he had provided transport to Raila and his entourage by availing his car.
"I was not aware that Raila was coming to the burial of Jackson Kibor until around 5:30 p.m. when I saw two helicopters coming and I was informed that it was the former Prime Minister.
"We didn't have the knowledge that there was any youth who were going to pelt stones to the helicopter of honourable Raila Odinga," he explained.
When pinned down on whether he learned about Raila's attendance from Dennis Onsarigo's tweet the previous day, he argued that he is not an active member of the platform.
During the interview, the governor also denied allegations that a section of leaders from the region may have taken part in the planning and execution of the attack on Raila Odinga.
"I've been the Governor in this county and I am going to the 10th year. I know leaders in this county very well. I can tell you none of these leaders have any intention or imagination in planning any violence against any political candidate in this county," he added.
In a press briefing the Governor gave on Saturday, April 2, after he was accused of mobilising the youth who stoned the chopper, Mandago denied taking part in the planning arguing that he had given his car to the entourage and that he would not participate in destroying it.
"If I was a politician who just thinks about political divides and does politics of hatred and violence, I would not have given them my car.
"I don't know how Junet (Mohammed, Suna East MP) forgets so fast that when they alighted, it is actually my car that brought them to the venue and that it is my own car that took them to the helicopter. My own car was stoned, how can I be organising violence against my own car and security?" He questioned at the time.
Three leaders including Oscar Sudi (MP Kapseret) and his Soy counterpart Caleb Kositany have already been questioned over the incident.
Other suspects who were arrested are facing an attempted murder charge.
As part of the probe, DCI summoned and grilled MPs John Mbadi, Junet Mohammed, and Babu Owino over the attack.
