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A cadre of Senators Thursday, April 4 urgently requested national security agencies to investigate and curb the activities of what they describe as “village militias”, allegedly sponsored by some Governors to skirt accountability. This demand was sparked by a series of violent episodes targeting Senator Okiya Omtatah.
The recent aggression against Senator Omtatah, including a notable assault at his rural homestead which left one individual injured, has prompted an outcry among his peers. Earlier, on March 22, Omtatah was also attacked by unknown assailants after departing the Busia Law Courts.
In light of these attacks, Senators, led by the Senate Deputy Minority Whip Edwin Sifuna, have pressed for a comprehensive investigation by the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, and the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Their primary concern is the well-being of Senator Omtatah and the clarification that these attacks are not linked to his advocacy work or his senatorial duties.
“The relevant agencies should conduct a thorough investigation into all these happenings to assure the Senate and the public that his life is not in danger and not in any way related to his work as an activist or Senator,” Sifuna said.
The underlying issue, as pointed out by Sifuna and his colleagues, is the alleged involvement of certain county leaders in orchestrating these attacks as a means to intimidate and silence Senators probing the allocation and use of county funds. The Senators’ allegations paint a troubling picture of governance at the county level, where opposition and oversight are often met with hostility rather than transparency.
Sifuna highlighted the personal risks faced by Senators, including himself, who endure harassment and defamation from Governors deploying thugs to disrupt their oversight activities. This claim was echoed by Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma, who directly implicated the Busia County Administration, led by Governor Paul Otuoma, in the attacks following Senator Omtatah’s legal actions against the county.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei further accused some county chiefs of utilizing devolved funds to finance the very militias accused of harassing Senators. “In the recent past, there has been a well-calculated move to intimidate and blackmail governors from doing their oversight job. The constitution didn’t envisage this and we condemn this and call relevant agencies to move with speed on the matter,” Cherargei said.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo deemed the attack on Senator Omtatah as utterly unacceptable, and urged security agencies to escalate their protective measures for Senators facing threats. “We want to urge our county security should be alert in regards to what is happening to senators in regards to their oversight role. Security agencies should take action on Governors mobilizing goons,” she stated.
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