Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip is not new to controversy, thanks to his never ending drama and collision with the law.

Not once or twice has he had a brush with the law since he was elected in 2017 on a Jubilee ticket.

He is also known to have a sharp tongue, especially on his social media pages, always ready to confront anyone who dares criticise him.

His rise to national politics was similarly largely unexpected – having trounced veteran Abu Chiaba who was first elected MP in 1992, had served the government for 24 years in various positions.

The day he was being sworn in as senator, Loitiptip showed up without a tie though his flamboyant outfit and dashing looks were noticeable from afar.

“His mother had to go look for a tie in town before he could be sworn in,” says one of his close friends who sought anonymity.

Before venturing into politics, the Kampala University graduate worked as a teller in a bank in Malindi.

Before that, he was The National Alliance campaign coordinator for Lamu county in 2013.

Born and raised in Mpeketoni, Lamu, Anwar schooled in Tchundwa Primary School before joining Doldol High School in Laikipia County for his secondary education.

He later proceeded to Uganda where he pursued a diploma course at Makerere University and later proceeded to Kampala University for his degree programme.

In May last year, Anwar’s father, David Kiwaka, was allegedly shot and seriously injured by a police officer at Doldol Police Station in Laikipia. 

The father was shot on the leg as police were trying to forcefully arrest him for failing to wear a mask. 

He passed away on October 12  after a short illness. Back in Lamu, Loitiptip’s election elicited a lot of excitement among the youth, as he was the youngest senator elected at 31 years. However, the excitement was short-lived.

 “The senator was elected as a way of giving back to his mother, an ambulance driver for the public hospital in Mpeketoni sub-county.  She had diligently served the public for a long time,”  a resident said. 

Soon after being elected, Loitiptip was accused of assaulting a security officer at a city mall after he declined to pay a Sh50 parking fee.

The flamboyant senator was accused of violently roughing up Caleb Nyongesa and threatening to shoot him.

The 11pm scuffle that lasted almost 10 minutes was captured on CCTV before Loitiptip and his security team retreated to their car. They then drove over a guard rail, bypassing the barrier, without paying the parking fee.

In 2019,  Loitiptip was on the receiving end after he was attacked by unknown assailants at a popular club in Nairobi in the company of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s daughter, Saumu Mbuvi.

Blunt objects

In his statement, the senator claimed Saumu had asked to visit  washrooms, and when she left, a gang, which was armed with blunt objects, pounced on him and clobbered him senseless.

The two lovers, however, had a bitter falling out early this year, with Saumu accusing the senator of assaulting her.

The mother of two shared a picture on Instagram, showing her injured face. She said she was almost being killed by the youthful politician.

“These are the things he did to me… he almost killed me. I will forever fight for women to stand for their rights. Never allow a man to be violent to you,” she stated.

Senator was last week yet again accused of assaulting a man eyeing his seat in the upcoming General Election.

Francis Mugo told People Daily that the lawmaker assaulted him at the Manda Airport jetty on Tuesday last week, immediately after Deputy President William Ruto, who was touring the area, boarded his plane.

“He twisted my hand, broke my glasses and took away my phone by force. I have recorded a statement at Lamu Police Station,” he said.

Mugo, who intends to run for the senatorial seat on a United Democratic Alliance  ticket, says the file is being reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecution for possible court action.

On Sunday, October 24, the senator was involved in a gun drama that left a woman seriously injured.

Police report

A police report shows the senator was at Kanu grounds in Nanyuki, Laikipia county, when he allegedly shot Joy Makena, 32, on her right leg above the ankle after she allegedly differed with the politician.

“The victim was rushed to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital in stable condition. The scene was processed and two spent cartridges of 9mm recovered,” police report read.

Police officers took away the firearm from his security aide Manoah Omale. The firearm, they said, would be used as an exhibit in court.

Anwar, when asked about the incident, claimed he was attacked at the hotel and was forced to shoot in the air to scare away his attackers.

He was, however, charged in court and released on Sh500,000 cash bail or an alternative Sh1 million bond.