MP Osoro denies involvement in chaos witnessed at Governor Simba Arati’s event
South Mugirango Member of Parliament Silvanus Osoro has distanced himself from the chaos witnessed at Governor Simba Arati's event on Monday, January 8, 2024.
The governor had convened a meeting at Nyakembeni market to issue bursary forms to residents when chaos broke out, forcing the county boss to end the event prematurely.
A group of unknown individuals were captured in a video shared on social media invading the meeting before gunshots rent the air, forcing the governor, parents and students to scamper for safety.
Security teams were forced to lob teargas canisters to disperse the residents after a confrontation ensued between persons believed to be supporters of Arati and the area MP.
Several people were injured and property of unknown value, including vehicles, destroyed in the fracas.
Addressing the media, Governor Arati blamed Osoro and security personnel for the chaos. He called on the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to probe the violence.
"I am told a number of those gunshots, including one that hit one of the guys on the left ear, were aimed at me," the governor claimed.
Osoro, on his part, dismissed the claims that he had a hand in the violence. He dismissed the drama as a ploy by the governor to gain political sympathy.
"It's an unfortunate scene. We need to be politically tolerant and understand that campaigns are very far," he said.
Police are yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
The political rivalry between Arati and Osoro became apparent at the height of the 2022 election campaigns.
At the time, Osoro, who doubles up as Majority Whip in the National Assembly, was leading presidential campaigns for President William Ruto in Kisii while Arati was drumming up support for opposition leader Raila Odinga.
At one time, the two leaders engaged in a fistfight during the burial of the father of the then Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi in February 2021. The event was attended by both Ruto and Raila.
