Viral Video Sparks Claims of Danger to Simba Arati’s Life, Lawyers Warn
The legal team advocating for Kisii Governor Simba Arati has asserted that the governor is facing threats to his life.
This follows a widely circulated audio on social media allegedly featuring a senior official from Kisii County discussing intentions to apprehend the governor.
Siaya Governor James Orengo stated at the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road on Monday that they had lodged an official statement detailing their grievances.
Governor Orengo expressed concern over a leaked audio circulating on social media, purportedly featuring the voice of the Kisii CCIO, suggesting a threat to the governor’s life. He urged detectives to intervene promptly.
“Simba Arati has been operating in Kisii under difficult circumstances, and we believe that there is constant harassment, intimidation, and persecution meted against Governor Arati,” Orengo said.
He mentioned that the leaked clip forms a portion of the evidence they’ve provided to the authorities for investigation.
Orengo suggests that the intention is to prevent the governor from having sufficient opportunity to fulfill his commitments to the public.
“This is to make sure that Governor Arati is not given the space to undertake his duties as a governor…we are not sure that the police are going to undertake the assurance that they have given us but they have told us that they are going to take action.”
Orengo said that the detectives had assured them of Arati’s security.
Governor Orengo has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of employing all available state resources to obstruct the governor, who was elected under the ODM ticket in the previous election.
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“If it cannot come to an end through official action, I’m sure the people of Kisii, the people in Kenya as a whole are not going to take it lightly without breaking some interventions, and we know what those interventions could.”
Senior Counsel and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo expressed the anticipation of prompt police intervention, highlighting concerns over the governor’s safety in Kisii, implying he may not be able to carry out his duties securely.
“This is a unique complaint. Governor Ararti has launched a complaint with DCI against the DCI. So, we want to see the action that they take because the alternative is to take the law into our own hands,” Amollo said.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, who is also representing him, stated that the governor’s activities have been hampered by the threats. However, they plan to observe the actions of the police before taking further steps.
“These threats have caused our client Governor Arati, and have affected his ability to function as a governor because he can no longer stay in a place that is hostile, and the hospitality is being perpetuated by the persons who are supposed to be protecting him,” Ndegwa said.
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In the letter addressed to the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), the governor asserted that the Chief Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO) located in Kisii was allegedly involved in discussions with other officials about placing weapons at his residence in Kisii, as well as at the homes of individuals thought to have ties to him.
“She is heard stating that the police will buy the weapons and after obtaining search warrants, enter the residences, plant the weapons and arrest using the planted weapons as exhibits in mounting charges before a court of law,” Arati’s letter reads.
He additionally mentioned that based on the leaked information, the police would guarantee the removal of his security officers to prevent any disruption to the plan.
The governor additionally mentioned that the safety concerns of his constituents haven’t been properly tackled, urging the detectives to expedite their investigation into the allegations.
Viral Video Sparks Claims of Danger to Simba Arati’s Life, Lawyers Warn