Kibra by-election: DPP responds to violence claims
Investigations into the violence during the just concluded Kibra by-election have been launched, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has said.
The DPP said that persons behind the chaos would be held personally responsible and charged in court once the investigations are complete.
Haji spoke during a youth forum organised by Emerging Leaders Foundation that champions the nvolvement and participation of young people in leadership.
“The detectives are already on the ground and we are waiting for them to bring the files for action. The leaders who incited the youth, including politicians, and the actual perpetrators of the violence will all be brought to book once we access the weight of the evidence brought to us,” he said.
He made the remarks on the same after that the ODM candidate Bernard Imran Okoth was declared the winner of the by-election with 24, 636 votes against Jubilee’s MacDonald Mariga who garnered 11,230 votes and Eliud Owalo of the Amani National Congress (ANC) with 5,277.
Haji noted that his office had prosecuted very senior government officials and that those who will be found culpable in the Kibra mayhem would not be an exception.
Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and other politicians were captured engaging the youth in running battles. Part of the violence was as a result of claims of voter bribery. Malava MP Malulu Injedi was injured at Mashimoni area after chaos broke out.
The DPP urged the youth to shun violence and instead uphold integrity and front for leadership structures that shun corruption and is anchored in efficient and effective utilisation of resources.
“Aspire to be leaders of integrity, principled and hardworking. No shortcuts,” he said.
Meanwhile, women parliamentarians allied to the Inua Mama Initiative have accused ODM of instigating violence to win Thursday's Kibra election.
The MPs accused the party of thriving on violence and accused some of its legislators, particularly Dagoretti North's Simba Arati and Suna East's Junet Mohammed - of allegedly unleashing violence on Jubilee colleagues in Kibra.
They cited Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) as well as Khalwale as some of Jubilee party agents who were attacked in Kibra on Thursday.
Led by chairperson Alice Wahome (Kandara) during a meeting in Webuye, Bungoma, the women leaders congratulated Imran for winning the contest and Jubilee's MacDonald Mariga for conceding defeat.
“The Jubilee candidate did a superb job considering that he is new in politics. But we condemn the violence that was experienced throughout the day and even before the election,” Wahome said.
She singled out Junet and Arati who she accused them of orchestrating the violence.
“We saw Simba Arati, Junet Mohammed and others leading more than 100 young men and goons in motor bikes. This is unacceptable," the MP said.
She claimed that the Jubilee Party conducted itself maturely throughout the campaign.
"We want to congratulate Mariga for conceding defeat. He has set a very good example that ODM can learn from,” she added
Wahome said what happened in Kibra was a clear indication that the Handshake had not addressed electoral violence.
“What we saw yesterday has actually shown that the Handshake has a long way to go," the Kandara MP said. Liza Chelule (Nakuru Woman Representative congratulated Mariga, noting that the 11,000 votes he got were significant for a newcomer in politics.
She said many women could not vote due to the violence that rocked the constituency.
Noting that Kenya's politics was "coming of age", Chelule criticised Junet and Arati for causing mayhem.
Joyce Korir (Bomet) said: “As Jubilee, we have tested the waters in Kibra and we are proud of the outcome."
Gladys Shollei (Uasin Gishu) said she was saddened over the death of Pan Paper Mills and Nzoia Sugar factory, which were economic bedrock of Bungoma County.
Bungoma Women Rep Catherine Wambilianga, the host, noted that Jubilee Party had demonstrated democratic maturity during the Kibra election.
She issued cheques to women and youth groups in the county. She also gave sufurias, bicycles, wheel-chairs, water tanks, gas cylinders and iron sheets.
