)
Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati whose name featured in the viral video of ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna issuing orders for Bonny Khalwale and Didimus Barasa to be chased from Kibra has addressed his alleged involvement in planning the violence and chaos that was witnessed during the Kibra by-election.
An undated video shared online showed Sifuna at a campaign rally instructing Arati and ‘his boys’ to deal with Khalwale and Barasa, instructing that the latter should be chased from Woodley to the border of Kibra constituency in less than 2 minutes.
Coincidentally, his words came to pass on Thursday during the poll after both Khalwale and Barasa were chased by irate youth in Kibra constituency with Arati right at the center of a scuffle in which the Kimilili legislator was roughed up.
Arati was captured on camera in a brief exchange with Barasa in which he asked him if he wanted to run before chaos broke out with several youth roughing up the MP.
)
)
)
)
The Dagoretti MP has since dismissed claims that he unleashed goons on his imilili counterpart and stated that contrary to the reports, he is the one who saved Barasa from the wrath of the youth.
“It is wrong for people and even you the media to report that I unleashed youths on Barasa. It is me who saved him.” Arati told a local media house.
Splashing money to buy votes
He clarified that when he asked Barasa if he wanted to run, he was referring to an earlier incident in which Barasa ad Oscar Sude had been accosted by rowdy touths over allegations that they were buying voters.
“Rumours were rife that Barasa and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi had been chased in the morning so when I met him, I inquired if he still wanted to run.
“It is his women who started exchanging with the youths, in fact, were it not for me, the situation could have turned nastier,” Arati said.
)
In reference to the Kimilili MP’s cap that was lost in the fracas, Arati expressed hope that it will be recovered soon.
“I hope we will find Didimus’s cap in one of the rallies very soon, but I didnt see anyone pick it, because I was shielding the female colleagues from the mob.” Said the MP.