One arrested, crude arms seized in botched county assembly attack

An attempt by hired goons to attack Nyamira ward reps in the precincts of the county assembly was yesterday thwarted and a car full of crude weapons impounded.

Swords and clubs
Hawk-eyed staff helped foil the planned attack at the assembly gate after a saloon car loaded with swords and clubs and carrying five occupants was stopped from entering the precincts.

A police officer who had escorted the vehicle and its occupants past a police roadblock at the main gate drew his pistol to scare away irate staff who were baying for the blood of the five occupants. In the ensuing melee, the five goons fled on foot, leaving the vehicle behind.

Bloody chaos
The assembly has been embroiled in bloody chaos for the past four days, after suspended assembly Speaker Enock Okero attempted to forcefully make his way back to his office.

An ad hoc House committee is investigating Okero over allegations of financial impropriety and bias, a process that may culminate in his removal from office by impeachment.

Driver arrested
In yesterday’s botched attack, the driver of the vehicle was arrested by assembly staff and handed over to the police. He confessed to police that he had ferried over 10 men to the assembly with crude weapons.

One person was arrested in connection with the incident, said Nyamira OCPD Martin Wambugu.

“We have arrested one person and he is being interrogated over a number of activities in connection with the violence which has rocked the county assembly for three days,” Wambugu told journalists.

Security uniforms
“Police have been tracking this man and by good luck he surfaced at the assembly, where he was arrested and handed over to us .

“He was carrying uniforms belonging to county government askaris which he gave to the goons, who were disguised as county government security officers when chaos erupted at the assembly on Wednesday.”