Bungoma County Governor Ken Lusaka and fellow gubernatorial and Ford Kenya aspirant Wycliffe Wangamati appeared before the IEBC committee chaired by Wafula Chebukati to present their complaints after they were summoned by the electoral body.
Governor Lusaka who was the first to present his complaint before the IEBC committee, claimed that on the 2nd of June 2017 after presenting his papers before the IEBC in Bungoma where he was cleared to vie for the second term, his motorcade was ambushed by supporters of Wangamati who unleashed a swarm of bees and pelted his motorcade with stones on their way to Posta grounds. One woman lost her life during the altercation between supporters allied to the two leaders. “We were all in shock as the unexpected events were unfolding, we survived by the grace of God,” said Lusaka “I don’t have a history of violence and am prepared to conduct myself in a civil way.”
However, Wangamati was quick to counter those allegations saying that they were not substantive and redirected the accusations back to Lusaka claiming that he was attacked by youths who were supporters of Lusaka and wore Jubilee t-shirts which highlighted their party affiliation. “The complaint does not meet the set threshold since people who caused chaos are Lusaka supporters,” he said, “Lusaka supporters followed us and started beating our supporters, he was prepared for war and wasn’t preaching peace.”
They both pledged to adhere to the IEBC code of conduct and carry out campaigns in a peaceful manner. The IEBC is expected to give their verdict on the matter tomorrow at 11 am.
