Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu and Kisii Governor Simba Arati engaged in a war of words during the burial of Kisii Polytechnic principal Daniel Nyariki.
The exchange began when a group of youth heckled CS Machogu while he was delivering President William Ruto’s speech at Kisii Polytechnic grounds.
Machogu accused Arati of influencing and paying the youth to interrupt his speech and cause chaos at the event.
“Hii mambo shilingi mia tano, mia nne inazungushwa hapo…hiyo ni upuzi, ushenzi, na upumbavu. Gavana afanye maendeleo si kelele. “Tumeona ushenzi mingi hapa sasa tutajitokeza na kusimamisha hii ushenzi,” said Machogu.
This translates to “The Ksh.500 or Ksh.400 being distributed around is unacceptable and a sign of foolishness. The governor should promote development and not chaos. We have witnessed a lot of stupidity here and we will stand firm and bring it to a stop.”
The CS then left the podium without inviting Governor Arati to make his remarks, prompting the governor to respond to his accusations when he took to the stage.
Arati Responds to Machogu
Arati accused Machogu of collaborating with officials from the national government and the police officers to disrupt the peace in Kisii County.
“Hii kelele yote inapigwa…ni wezi ambao tumekanyagia wao. Wale ambao wanaletanga fujo wametoka hapa. Unataka kumaliza kuongea kabla sijaingia. We ni mwanaume unangoja unasomea mwingine na mimi nimekupata ukiongea,” said Arati.
This can be translated to “All this noise comes from people we have power over, those causing chaos have already left. Why would you want to end the event before I talk? You are a man, yet you lecture me, and I found you speaking.”
The Governor told Machogu to be grateful that he was appointed CS after losing the 2022 Kisii gubernatorial elections.
“He should thank President Ruto for sympathizing with him, giving him a job after I won against him in the elections,” he added.
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Bowen’s Accusations
Arati further criticized Kisii County Commissioner Bowen for his remarks at the funeral.
Bowen, in his speech condemned leaders accused of bribing the youth to instigate chaos at the event.
“Ni maajabu sana kama kuna kiongozi katikati yetu ambaye anaeza chochea vijana wakuje wapige kelele so nataka nihakikishie viongozi wetu, Mheshimiwa Governor ukiwa mbele, sijekuja starehe starehe yangu ni kazi,”said Bowen.
This can be loosely translated to “It is shocking that there is a leader amongst us who can influence the youth to come and cause chaos here. I want to assure our leaders led by the governor that I am not here to rest, I’m here to work.”
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Kisii Governor’s Response to the Commissioner
In his response, Arati told the Commissioner to stop threatening leaders adding that there is no action he can take.
“Ambia huyu County Commissioner hawezi tisha sisi. Atafanya nini? Ulikuwa Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) hapa Nyamarambe, umekuja hapa ukamea pembe, tutang’oa. Wewe ukileta vitisho Kwenda kwako upingiwe kura nyumbani ulete hiyo vitisho hapo,” said Arati.
This translates to “Tell this Commissioner to stop threatening us, what can he do? You were a DCC here in Nyamarambe now you are growing horns. We will trim them. If you want to threaten people go back and get elected in your home and issue threats, there.”
This comes amid a supremacy battle between Governor Arati and South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro over the control of the Gusii nation.
