Machogu to Mediate Between Bitter Rivals Sylvanus Osoro, Simba Arati

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Education CS Ezekiel Machogu is to head a leaders’ consultative meeting aimed at ending the rift between Kisii Governor Simba Arati and South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro.

In a terse statement Friday, Machogu described the political ongoings in Kisii as ‘perturbing and disturbing’ and already denting the image of the region.

The CS, who is the senior most ranking leader in government from Gusii, wants the beef between the two leaders addressed to stem the further escalation of animosity and violence.

The standoff between the two has already led to the loss of three lives.

Machogu said this should come to an end.

“To get to the bottom of the matter it has decided that consultations be initiated among the leaders with a view to finding a solution to this unacceptable situation that threatens to soil the good name of our otherwise peaceful region,” Machogu said in a statement issued late Friday.

The venue for the January 17 meeting will be communicated later, he stated.

The statement was copied to key regional leaders from the region among them religious leaders Bishop Mairura Okemwa (Catholic) and Dr Paul Kiage, the Seventh Day Adventist church South Kenya president.

Solicitor General Shadrach Mose was also invited to the meeting.

Machogu’s move to intervene in the raging conflict has come hot on the heels of fracas witnessed at the Governors rally in South Mugirango on Monday this week.

During the incident, gunshots were fired after Osoro stormed into Arati’s rally to demand speakers that had allegedly been confiscated from his staff.

The Majority Whip accused the governor’s security detail of confiscating the equipment and injuring his staff.

Two of Osoro’s staffers, among them the driver of the car that had mounted speakers and another aide were injured during the melee.

The Governor has since rebuffed accusations that he engineered the fracas and accused Osoro of attempting to assassinate him.

It was the third incident in recent months in which the two leaders were squaring it out in the open.

During the first incident, the two fought at a burial in Ogembo three years ago in the presence of William Ruto, then the Deputy President.

Kisii County Commissioner Tom Anjere has promised ‘ swift action for those who may be found culpable of committing the felony.’

Already, he added, the government has told those who had sustained injuries during the fracas to file reports with the police as the investigations start.

“As a county security committee, we will take action on whoever would be found responsible, be it an MCA, be it the governor or whoever may be,” Anjere told journalists during a press conference.

—The Star