Two Makueni county staff shot as Governor Kivutha Kibwana supporters clash with police

One of the victims of the Makueni chaos lies at Makueni Level 4 hospital

Five people were injured after supporters of Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana engaged police in running battles outside the County Assembly.

Those injured included Prof Kibwana's bodyguard William Kinoti, County Chief of Staff  Douglas Mbilu, and Francis Musyoka (a former councillor), who were shot in the leg. 

County Assistant Orderly Brian Mutua was shot in the stomach and a pastor, Festus Nyamai, sustained injuries on the shoulder. 

The injured were taken to Makueni Level Four Hospital. By the time of going to press, Mr Mutua was being operated on to remove the bullet lodged in his stomach.

Trouble started when the governor walked from his office, about 100 metres from the assembly escorted by his supporters.

Attempts by police to stop his charged supporters failed as they reached the gate leading to the Speaker's office and started kicking it to pave way for their boss to access the office.

PROTECTED AREA

Six MPs and Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior were locked in a meeting with Speaker Stephen Ngelu when the governor arrived.

The MPs were Jessica Mbalu (Kibwezi East), Patrick Musimba (Kibwezi West), Kisoi Munyao (Mbooni), Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), Rose Museo (Woman Rep) and Richard Makenga (Kaiti).

Security officers shot in the air to disperse the charging supporters, forcing them to retreat.

Briefing the Press after the nasty incident, the leaders condemned the incident. They said it was against the rules of any legislative assembly for one to try to force his way to a protected area.

In a statement read by Mutula Junior, the leaders said there is a serious disconnect between the county government, the assembly and elected leaders.

The impasse, they said, had caused and would continue to cause delay of development in the county.

They revisited issues on the expenditure relating to the county government in the last financial year, which have not been addressed, such as failure to fully implement the 2013/14 budget.

As an oversight body, the county assembly was urged to investigate and recommend sanctions on any county government official found to have misappropriated funds.

Earlier, the governor's supporters forced their way into the assembly compound by breaking the foot path gate and demanded to enter the assembly's public gallery.

They engaged the police who stopped them in a heated argument, forcing Members of the County Assembly to come out to check out what was happening.

The angry supporters accused the MCAs of misusing funds on "uncalled-for local and foreign trips".

They defended the governor, saying he had delivered and accused the MCAs of trying to arm-twist the governor for their own selfish gains.

But speaking on behalf of the MCAs, Majority Leader Francis Mutuku blamed the governor for the woes bedevilling the county.

He said the assembly would teach the governor a lesson by impeaching at least five members of his executive committee.