Four MPs in gun drama at popular city pub

An argument about cigarette in a popular Nairobi hang-out joint on Thursday night degenerated into gun drama involving four MPs and reignited debate on civilian gunholders.

An argument over the right to smoke or not to smoke in a prohibited area sparked an altercation at Cedars restaurant on Lenana road in Nairobi.

The four MPs, Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Sam Atandi (Alego Usonga), Dismas Barasa (Kimili) and Ayub Savula (Lugari) were having a drink when a South Sudanese national confronted them in his drunken stupor.

"Just without provocation, he walked to the table where my colleagues Oscar, Atandi and Barasa were seated. When we protested he blew cigarette smoke on Atandi’s face,” said Mr Savula.

During the scuffle a bottle missed its target and crushed on the wall before three gunswere drawn forcing revelers to scamper for safety.

The restaurant’s management yesterday confirmed the scuffle but refused to divulge details.

“The MPs bodyguards who were waiting for them in their cars rushed in and joined in the commotion,” said one of the employees at the hotel.

Overpowered, the South Sudanese national made some calls and his friends who were not at the venue rushed to the restaurant spoiling for a fight forcing operations to stop for a while.

Kilimani OCPD Michael Muchiri said he cannot comment on the matter since it was not reported to the police station. “No complaint has been filed in our office yet,” he said.

Efforts to seek comments from the other three MPs who were involved in the scuffle were futile. Savula denied that they drew guns saying it was their bodyguards who intervened to calm the situation.