Senators Attacked During Oversight Meeting, Allegedly By Governor
On Monday, a group of senators were reportedly attacked by goons in Kisii while conducting an audit of the county government’s budget.
In a message on his X account, area Senator Richard Onyonka accused the area Governor, Simba Arati, of arranging the attack on Budget and Finance Committee members in order to obstruct the audit.
Onyonka, who strongly condemned the act, claimed the attack was intended to divert the committee’s attention away from how the county government was handling public cash.
According to Onyonka, the committee first discovered flaws in the county’s books and spending, prompting it to visit the Kisii county assembly for additional investigation.
I strongly CONDEMN the attack by goons and criminals who were hired by Simba Arati on the Senate Team during the Senate visit to Kisii County to audit and oversee the county’s books and spending. This happened under the glaring watch of the members of the Senate Budget and… pic.twitter.com/KcPuZdlvcu
— Senator Richard Onyonka (@RichardOnyonka_) June 9, 2025
“The senate came to Kisii to do an oversight on the county government after we realised that its books had issues,” he said.
“We went to the assembly so that we could discuss those matters, but when we arrived, the governor organised his goons to start fighting people he believes support me.”
The member said that the governor should follow the required legal channels to protect himself rather than causing violence.
Onyonka argued that the episode demonstrated inefficiency in the county government.
Onyonka stated that the committee will not back down in its efforts to enforce accountability in the Kisii county administration and other public officials throughout the country.
The Senate Finance and Budget Committee led by the Chairperson Senator Ali Roba is today visiting Kisii County as part of the Committee's efforts to deliberate on the ballooning pending bills that the County Executive owes to service providers.
— Senator Richard Onyonka (@RichardOnyonka_) June 9, 2025
The Committee is aiming to finding… pic.twitter.com/xmIUX3jfHX
“I want to state categorically that we came here to audit the books of Kisii County, but why does the governor not want us to come and do that?” he posed.
“He believes that if he creates violence, then we will fear him. I want to tell him that the fear left us a long time ago. Logic is coming and making an argument where we are,” the senator said.
The event occurred less than a month after Deputy President Kithure Kindiki condemned individuals who use violence to settle political disputes in a message posted on his social media account on Thursday, May 15th.
The remark came shortly after suspected thugs attempted to interrupt the launch of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s party.
Kindiki emphasized that violence, insults, and divided politics threaten to undermine the country’s democratic progress.
ALSO READ:
- Duale Confirms Kenya-U.S. Deal For Ebola Quarantine, Testing
- “Kenya Has Enough Fuel Reserve!” – CS Wandayi Assures
- Journalist Jailed In Ksh16 Million State House Case, Governor Intervenes
- Ruto’s UDA Fiercely Responds To Uhuru, Terms Him ‘Bitter And Obsessed’
- REVEALED: How Ruto’s UDA Plan To Infiltrate Gachagua’s DCP Party
The DP emphasized the importance of democratic tolerance, which he believed would improve the country’s progress and protect future generations.
“Our country must exercise democratic tolerance and embrace issue-based politics,” Kindiki said.
“Insults, violence, and divisive rhetoric as a means of processing political differences of opinion have no place in our society.”
“We owe to the current and future generations a nation built on peace, peaceful coexistence, and respect for one another even when we disagree on issues of policy,” he added.
Senators Attacked During Oversight Meeting, Allegedly By Governor
