Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa re-elected amidst murder allegations
Didmus Barasa, who has been on the run since shooting an aide to his rival, was announced as the victor in Kimilili Constituency ahead of his opponents Brian Khaemba of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).
Barasa, who was defending his seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, garnered 26,861 votes while Khaemba came in second with 9,497 votes.
The incident involving the Kimilili Member of Parliament occurred at Chebukwabi polling station after a heated argument between him and Khaemba.
Both of them were there to witness the counting of votes.
Didmus is suspected to have shot Khaemba’s aide namely Brian Olunga on the forehead. Olunga was pronounced dead on arrival at Kimilili sub-county hospital.
Joseph Ondoro, head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Bungoma, stated they were searching for the MP with Bungoma Police Commander Francis Kooli reiterating that the Kimilili MP was their prime suspect.
He was requested by the authorities to present himself and the police suspected that he had fled to Uganda.
“He has run away but we are looking for him. Let him surrender. We suspect he took a motorcycle towards Uganda but we will get him. He is yet to be arrested,” said the police commander.
Former Member of Parliament of the said constituency, Murunga, expressed that IEBC should nullify Kimilili Constituency results as the criminal act committed by Didmus Barasa was also an electoral offense.
Responding to the shooting incident, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati stated that until Barasa had been convicted by the authorities, then the elections body by law couldn’t take any action against him.
“Murder is a case charged by the police and until the time that one has been convicted, then IEBC may not have much to do with the case,” said the electoral chair.
