Didmus Barasa Claims He Survived Assassination a Day to Polls

Didmus Barasa
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa casting his vote at Kimilili DEB primary school Kimilili Constituency, Bungoma County on August, 9, 2022
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Didmus Barasa

Kimilili Member of Parliament-elect, Didmus Barasa, has denied reports that he had fled to Uganda after a shooting incident in his constituency on the voting day.

Addressing the press at Bungoma Police Station after surrendering himself, Barasa claimed that he was in Nairobi even as police launched a manhunt to track him down.

Barasa further claimed that he survived an assassination attempt on Sunday, August 7, the day he is accused of fatally shooting his opponent's aide following a disagreement. 

He argues that on the day, his bodyguards were attacked and one of them is recuperating at a health facility he did not disclose.

Politician Didmus Barasa surrenders to police in Bungoma on Friday, August 12, 2022.
Politician Didmus Barasa surrenders to police in Bungoma on Friday, August 12, 2022.
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"I went to Nairobi so that the court can give anticipatory bail. I saw on TV or regional police commander asking me to surrender and I drove all the way from Nairobi ready to cooperate with the police.

"On Sunday night, my private bodyguard was attacked badly and he was in a coma for three days and he was on life care. the same night I survived an assassination attempt," Barasa claimed.

The MP-elect, who was declared the winner of the polls, stated that he was ready to cooperate with the police as they continue with their investigations on the matter.

He stated that he had not given any written permission to anyone to collect his certificate after Kimilili Returning Officer George Omondi insisted that Barasa had to present himself at the tallying centre physically. 

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has ordered the police to arrest the UDA MP-elect. 

The politician who allegedly fatally shot Brian Khaemba's bodyguard, at Chebukwabi polling station, is on the run and has not been seen for days.

He was announced the winner by the IEBC returning officer after garnering 26,861 votes against his opponent Brian Khaemba of the Democratic Action party (DAP-K) who got 9, 497 votes.

Director of Criminal Investigation, Joseph Ondoro, asked the MP to surrender himself to the police and that they were treating him as a prime suspect in the tragic incident.

"Last night he was on Twitter. We are still following close leads that will lead to his arrest," Ondoro.

During a presser on Wednesday, August 10, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati stated that the matter was outside the commission's mandate and they will not meddle.

“That is a matter for the police and I believe the law will take its course because the commission does not deal with those kinds of cases

"Our officers on the ground will be witnesses and as far as the law goes, until that time an individual is convicted, the commission will not be able to come in the criminal investigation,” Chebukati noted.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati addressing the media at Bomas of Kenya
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati addressing the media at Bomas of Kenya
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