Education CS Machogu, Kisii Governor Simba Arati trade blows at funeral in Kisii

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu and Kisii Governor Simba Arati tore at each other in public during a funeral ceremony held in the region on Friday.

The two leaders accused each other of fomenting trouble in the region, drawing County Commissioner Kibet Bowen into the exchange that had governor Arati telling off both the CS and the administrator

The confrontation began when a group of youths booed the Education CS while he was delivering President William Ruto's speech at Kisii Polytechnic grounds during the burial of the institution's head, Daniel Nyariki.

Subsequently, Machogu condemned Arati, with the Education CS suggesting that the governor had influenced the youth to instigate chaos at the event.

"Hii mambo shilingi mia tano, mia nne inazungushwa hapo...hiyo ni upuzi, ushenzi, na upumbavu. Gavana afanye maendeleo si kelele," said Machogu who further faulted Arati's style of leadership.

"Tumeona ushenzi mingi hapa sasa tutajitokeza na kusimamisha hii ushenzi."

Machogu would then leave the podium without inviting the governor to make his address, a move that seemingly irked Arati who responded in equal measure when he took to the stage, accusing the CS of collaborating with rogue police officers to disrupt the peace in Kisii County.

 "Hii kelele yote inapigwa...ni wezi ambao tumekanyagia wao. Wale ambao wanaletanga fujo wametoka hapa. Unataka kumaliza kuongea kabla sijaingia. We ni mwanaume unangoja unasomea mwingine na mimi nimekupata ukiongea," said Arati.

The governor likewise criticised Kisii County Commissioner Bowen for his remarks at the funeral.

Bowen, in his address, likewise suggested Arati's purported involvement in the current chaos plaguing Kisii County.

"Ni maajabu sana kama kuna kiongozi katika yetu ambaye anaeza chochea vijana wakuje wapige kelele so nataka nihakikishie viongozi wetu, Mheshimiwa Governor ukiwa mbele, sijekuja starehe starehe yangu ni kazi," Bowen said during his adddress.

"Ambia huyu County Commissioner hawezi tisha sisi. Atafanya nini? Ulikuwa DCC hapa Nyamarambe, umekuja hapa ukamea pembe," Arati said in response.