Likuyani MP Dr. Enock Kibunguchy’s speech on Monday during the burial of his late driver in Kiminini, Trans-Nzoia County is to blame for the chaos that occurred, according to Kakamega Youths and Sports CEC Robert Makhanu Kundu. The fracas started after the Kakamega Sports CEC was heckled, and it left five people with gunshot wounds including bodyguards attached to MPs present.
According to Makhanu, hell broke loose when he went to the podium to exchange hands with other leaders who were in attendance including Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Wetangula. He said that once Kibunguchy spotted him, he announced to the mourners that some people from Kakamega had arrived, and as a result, heckling started.
He said that he noted the MP’s speech pattern from a distance and knew that trouble was cooking. “After alighting, I heard the MP say that the Kakamega boss and his political opponent were behind the killing of his driver, who wasn’t the target, but he (Kibunguchy) was.”
He said he smelt a rat and decided to stand among mourners, and being new in the County he wasn’t easily recognizable. From there he heard wind that some people from Kakamega were expected and they’ll be attacked. He later was spotted by a certain leader who insisted that he joins the guests at the podium.
Makhanu revealed that Kibunguchy personally called him and requested that he attends the burial. He explained that though he was unwilling to attend the burial, Kibunguchy insisted and even gave him directions to the deceased’s home. “I expected him to calm down his supporters when they started heckling but he just kept quiet and allowed the state to worsen. One of his supporters that I know stepped forward and hit my face and chaotic scenes ensued,” explained Makhanu.
Makhanu said that he took cover when the gun shots rent the air but he noticed Kibunguchy’s bodyguard targeting him. He added that some people around him during the incident sustained gunshot injuries but by God’s grace he was saved.
The Kakamega Sports CEC has linked Kibunguchy’s utterances to a long time political enmity between the MP and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
However, he has maintained that their is nothing personal between him and the law maker but falls victim because he is an ODM member and Governor Oparanya’s supporter.
He has recorded the statement with the police at Kiminini police and Kitale divisional headquarters in Kitale and wants investigations done and justice served.