UPDATE 16:40: Stephen Masinde, a man who was allegedly caught on camera being slapped by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has asked police to speed up investigations and arrest the legislature.
Masinde, who has reported the matter under OB Number 30/30/07/2021 at Kimilili Police Station, stated that he had also been roughed up by the MP's bodyguards.
“As the area MP, Barasa sought my construction services. I ensured the work was done in time. However, when it came to paying me, he and his team resorted to violence. It is my right to get paid for the services I rendered,” he told the Standard.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has alleged that he did not slap a contractor on Friday, July 30, contrary to what has been captured in a video making rounds on social media.
Speaking to journalists, Barasa stated that he was signaling Stephen Masinde to zip up his trousers, adding that he had unsuccessfully tried to alert him in a coded message.
In addition, Barasa acknowledged that he knew Masinde well, claiming that he was a long-time friend.
“Mimi nilikua naenda tu kumuambia afunge zip kwa sababu niliona najaribu kumfinyia macho lakini naona ni kama network yake haishiki vizuri ikabidi mimi mwenyewe niende nimuambie. (I kept winking at him and telling him to zip his pair of trousers but he did not understand the message)," Barasa stated.
"He has accompanied me to a number of rallies during campaigns and entertained the audience because he is also a musician," Barasa stated.
Events unfolded on Friday after Barasa arrived at Baptist Lurare Primary School in Kimilili constituency where he was to launch five classes that had been constructed by the National Government Constituency Development Fund.
On arriving, Barasa found that the classrooms had been locked by Masinde who stated that he had not been paid for the services he had offered.
"I have closed these classes because they cannot begin to operate without me being paid as they will be spoiled by children and he might end up refusing to pay me completely," Masinde told journalists.
The school's headteacher lauded Masinde's work and was grateful to the contractor for always helping with renovations in the institution.
Barasa has come under heavy criticism from a section of Kenyans who noted that leaders should behave with decorum when serving their constituents.
"Please don't forget that leadership is composed of humility and service to the people and not a public display of arrogance and superiority complex," DJ Nicky stated.
"Shame on you ...I feel for Steve. DCI should arrest Dismus Baraza," Azen commented.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/iZZBFqIKYWE.jpg?itok=Wb2pt-yK","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
