In Summary;
- Genesis of feud
- Confrontation at Chwele Police (video)
- Rejoinder; Kabuchai MP (video)
- Rejoinder: Simiyu Mutaki
- Rejoinder; County Boda Chair
- Rejoinder; Kabuchai boda Chair (audio)
The recent explosion of political unrest at Chwele market in Kabuchai Constituency is not news to anyone who has been keenly following the Chwele/Kabuchai political battles. Following the demise of former MP Hon James Mukwe on December 4, 2020 the political temperatures hit the roof even before he was buried with Majimbo Kalasinga who had previously been an ardent supporter of DP Ruto and member of Jubilee Party defecting on the eve of Mukwe’s burial a move that ultimately won him the seat.
During campaigns supporters to different leaders put aside their differences in favor of mounting a successful campaign for the “Hustler” candidate on a Ford Kenya ticket. It’s worth noting that politicians who couldn’t otherwise see eye to eye would be seen working together just to deliver a Majimbo Kalasinga MP
Come March 4, 2021 by-elections, Joseph Majimbo Kalasinga was declared winner by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Returning Officer for Kabuchai Constituency Mr Benson Esuza at Mabanga Agricultural Training Centre;
- Majimbo Kalasinga of Ford Kenya gannered 19,274 votes (65% of the total votes cast.
- Evans Kakai of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) got 6,455 votes (22%)
- Amos Wekesa of the Federal Party of Kenya got 1,454 votes (5%)
- Gasper Wafubwa garnered 1,236 votes (4%).
Out of the 57, 654 registered voters, the total votes cast were 29,798 translating to 51.68% with 320 rejected votes.
Everyone who participated in Majimbo Kalasinga’s winning team had huge expectations as he battled the need to absorb Mukwe’s employees as opposed to employ his own the latter being an option that would have allowed him more opportunities to award his “boys” with employment. The MP opted to retain the former MPs team attracting rebellion from those who felt shortchanged.
Kalasinga’s association with Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula added salt to injury as pro-Wangamati supporters who are obviously anti-Weta started to openly critic and at times abuse the legislator. Wangamati then took advantage of the situation to fuel the beef to the point of a total fallout.
On the forefront of Pro-Wangamati’s team was director Logistics in Wangmati’s administration Simiyu Mutaki who was very instrumental in delivering a Kalasinga-win. At the time of the by-election campaigns Wangamati and his fellow coup plotters opted to keep off since their attempt to grab the party had hit a dead-end gaving Mutaki who was then alleged to be serving a suspension an opportunity to fully campaign for Majimbo alongside Senator Wetangula and Chwele/Kabuchai MCA Barasa Mukhongo.
About a month after the Kabuchai by-election, Bungoma County bodaboda operators elected new office bearers. Mr. Alex Kisuya (Kabuchai) was unanimously elected the County Chair deputized by Benard Machunga from Kanduyi subcounty. This made Kisuya powerful enough to command the revered boda sector. So when Kisuya fell out with the Kabuchai MP some things were inevitable since he was a preferred candidate to the Bungoma governor prior to the Bodas election.
FAST FORWARD;
Kisuya who had without fear been taking on the MP was on Saturday, 3 July 2021 heading home at about 7;30pm when he is alleged to have run into Hon. Kalasinga’s driver who assaulted him accusing him of disrespecting the area MP as a result Kisuya sustained injuries. Kisuya reported the matter at Chwele Police station leading to the arrest of the accused…. On Sunday, 4 July 2021 upon getting info on his driver’s arrest, the MP stormed the Chwele Police Station with the intention of securing his release via cash bail. Kisuya and his team on the other hand had been waiting for this moment, they also stormed the station in numbers demanding that the driver is not released. This led to a nasty confrontation with the MP almost getting physical with Kabuchai bodaboda chairman called Msanii. Police had to lobby teargas to restore calm before allowing the MP to bail out his driver
On Monday, 5 July 6, 2021 a section of Bodabodas while heeding to a call to demonstrate by Msanii gathered at Mabanga ATC where they were hosted for a pre-demo meeting by Bukembe East MCA Hon. Joram Wanjala at Rovas Hotel. A County government official was spotted arriving at the venue but left shortly after when #iKUWEiKUWE Updates informed the public of what was happening. The team opted to abort the demonstration after word went round that a lorry full of anti-riot police was enroute to Chwele from Bungoma town as well as bodabodas allied to Kabuchai MP were on standby to counter Pro-Wangamati ones. They later left Mabanga for governor Wangamati’s Ndengelwa home leaving the demo to die a natural death.
Msanii Audio;
Anthony Chesikaki aka Msanii calls for a demonstration – Audio 2021-07-04 at 14.13.47
Rejoinder:
Alex Kisuya ~ County Bodaboda Chairman; I was going home when I ran into Kalasinga’s driver who was hiding somewhere on the road. He started beating me accusing me of abusing the MP.
Anthony Chesikaki aka Msanii ~ Kabuchai Bodaboda Chairman; Our MP is not assisting us and he does not want us to tell him the truth. When Alex met Majimbo’s boys who seem to have been holding a grudge against him, they beat him injuring his face and hand.
Simiyu Mutaki: The M.P is too first to react and therefore I want to ask him to learn how to solve conflicts. Being the father of the Constituency he needs everyone. Let him apply dialogue at all times. In fact the bodabodas respect our MP so much but let him stop this small excitements of saying “Ese omubunge” meaning am an MP. Yes he is our lovely M.P and everyone knows that. Lastly he called some of us dogs but we forgave him and moved on so let him be a unifying and not a dividing factor. He’ll need those bodabodas like never before come 2022.
Kabuchai MP Hon. Majimbo Kalasinga referred me to this video;
