Wangamati records statement over alleged death threats to journalist
Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati addresses the press outside his office in this file photo.
What you need to know:
- Mr Wangamati has been accused by Jimmy Simiyu, a Royal Media Services reporter in Bungoma County, of threatening him on Saturday over a story he filed after a funeral.
Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has recorded a police statement over allegations that he had threatened a local journalist who wrote a story that portrayed him negatively.
Mr Wangamati has been accused by Jimmy Simiyu, a Royal Media Services reporter in Bungoma County, of threatening him on Saturday over a story he filed after a funeral, as well as another accusing the governor of flouting Covid-19 regulations.
Mr Wangamati, who recorded the statement on Monday evening, is accused of issuing the threats using a phone belonging to one of his aides, Antony Wamalwa.
The county boss, however, has denied threatening the journalist, with his communications director Timothy Machi saying Mr Wangamati was only seeking a right of reply.
Warning to youths
This comes as Bungoma County Commissioner Samuel Kimiti warned local youths against being used by politicians to cause chaos at funerals and other events.
Mr Kimiti said police are hot on the heels of known youths who have been involved in violence and causing disturbances at funerals and other functions across the county's nine constituencies. He said two people who recently caused fracases at funerals in Kabuchai and Kimilili have been arrested.
Karim, a bouncer who attacked Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa last month during a funeral in Kibingei Ward, and Caleb Kundu, who attacked Lwandanyi Ward MCA Tony Barasa during a Saturday funeral in Tuti Marakaru Ward, have been arrested.
"We want to say here that no one is above the law and anyone who will be found causing a fracas at funerals will be put behind bars and taken to court,” Mr Kimiti said.
He said Mr Kundu had been charged with two counts: causing a disturbance at a funeral and hurling abuses at someone on social media. He had been released on bond, the county commissioner said.
He added that police were still looking for one goon who is on the run by the name Denis Maunda, who is alleged to have participated in the Tuti Marakaru burial fracas.
Mr Kimiti also cautioned residents against holding funerals with more than 50 people.
"Anyone who thinks that he will come up with an illegal group of youths to cause mayhem, they will be in for a rude shock. I have instructed my officers to arrest them on the spot without caring who sent them,” he said.
