Kisii gubernatorial candidate on an ODM ticket, Simba Arati on Saturday, August 6, dismissed reports that his campaign vehicle ploughed through a crowd in Bobasi.
In a statement, Arati noted that the claims were baseless attempts by his rivals to curtail his campaign bid to clinch the governor's seat ahead of the Tuesday, August 9 polls.
Further, he urged his supporters to maintain peace during and after the electioneering period.
"My attention has been drawn to images doing rounds on social media purporting that my supporters attacked occupants of a motor vehicle in Bobasi."
"I wish to categorically state that the allegations are not only baseless but cheap propaganda by our detractors who have sensed defeat at the ballot. We dismiss the allegations with the contempt they deserve and urge our supporters to continue fostering peace," Arati stated.
Media reports had initially indicated that the vehicle rammed into supporters of former Transport Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Chris Obure.
Obure is vying for the same seat on a Jubilee party ticket- in what is seen as a sibling rivalry among the Azimio la Umoja party affiliates.
The accident, which occurred on Saturday evening, August 6, left one person dead, as seven others sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital where they are receiving treatment.
Photos circulating on social media showed the vehicle set ablaze by irate supporters at the scene.
The campaign season has claimed several lives on the roads across the country, with politicians' vehicles being involved in some of the crashes.
Recently, four people were killed after a car ferrying supporters of Lunga Lunga MP, Khatib Mwashetani, got involved in an accident.
Reports indicated that the driver lost control after a tyre burst as he was speeding along the Likoni-Lunga Lunga road.
The four were said to be on a campaign trail to popularise the legislator's bid before their untimely demise. Lunga Lunga OCPD Peter Nzimbi affirmed that police would reveal the full report in due time.
"They were coming from Kanana heading to Lungalunga when the vehicle got a tyre burst and rolled. Preliminary investigations show the vehicle could have been at a high speed,” he stated.
