Ichuni Ward MCA Wyclife Siocha, popularly known as Embande, lay on his hospital bed surrounded by political allies, relatives and friends who had rushed to see him.
While writhing in pain on his hospital bed, Ichuni Ward MCA Wyclife Siocha, popularly known as Embande, seemed less concerned about his own condition than the welfare of his expectant wife.
‘My wife is pregnant. Where is she? I pray she doesn’t come here and find me in this state. I’m worried she will miscarry,’ he said amid tears and visible agony.
Only moments earlier, Embande had allegedly been attacked by a group of assailants in Kisii Town, suffering serious injuries that left doctors fighting to stabilize him before plans were made to transfer him to Nairobi for specialized treatment.
The attack has once again thrust Kisii County into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, raising fresh concerns over what many residents describe as a growing culture of political intimidation and violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
For residents, the scenes now unfolding across the county appear eerily similar to a warning that was issued years ago by former Governor James Ongwae during a heated election campaign.
Ongwae had cautioned residents that the county risked ushering ‘mud into leadership’ if politics descended into intolerance and lawlessness.
Today, critics say the warning appears increasingly prophetic.
Embande was attacked on Thursday morning while supervising repairs on his vehicle at a garage within Kisii Town’s Central Business District.
Witnesses said a group of men armed with crude weapons descended on him, beating him unconscious before fleeing.
According to eyewitness accounts, one of the attackers accused the MCA of betrayal during the assault.
The incident comes barely a fortnight after Embande publicly abandoned Governor Simba Arati’s political camp and joined the ‘Wantam’ movement while declaring support for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i’s presidential bid.
The MCA had also recently apologized for his role in the impeachment of former Deputy Governor Dr Robert Monda Onsare, claiming he had been misled into supporting the process.
The MCA’s attack sent shockwaves across Kisii County, with residents warning that continued political violence could erode the peace and harmony that has traditionally characterized the region.
Soon after the incident, a group of MCAs in the company of former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu stormed Kisii Central Police Station demanding immediate arrests.
‘We are giving the police 12 hours to apprehend the suspects who are well known, failure to which wananchi will be forced to take action and bring the suspects to you, the police,’ Machogu warned.
The former CS who is planning to make a second attempt in the 2027 Kisii County gubernatorial race accused security agencies of failing to act despite a series of similar incidents targeting politicians opposed to the county government.
‘We are tired. We will take no more of this. I am a victim of these similar attacks and to date, the suspects roam our county freely,’ he said.
Machogu himself was attacked earlier this year after attending a church function in Bomachoge Borabu.
His vehicle was damaged by individuals he described as political thugs.
‘The first time something like this happened was at the funeral of Mr Chris Obure’s stepmother, when we came face to face with goons who stoned us and damaged a vehicle in my entourage. We were rescued by villagers with the help of police officers,’ Machogu recalled.
In recent months, opposition leaders allied to the United Alternative Government movement had their rallies in Kisii and Keroka disrupted by groups of armed youths.
Vehicles were vandalized, property destroyed and several people injured during chaotic confrontations.
At Keroka, an alleged getaway vehicle was burned by angry residents while a Jubilee Party truck was destroyed during the unrest.
Last month, a local political activist Obed Mogunda Somoni was hospitalized for more than a week after suffering severe injuries during another attack.
Medical reports indicated he sustained a fractured hip, head injuries, chest trauma and internal complications that saw him vomiting blood.
In a separate incident, vehicles belonging to three Kisii County MCAs had their tyres deflated inside the County Assembly precincts while House business was underway.
Although many victims and opposition leaders have blamed Governor Simba Arati’s supporters for the violence, the governor has previously denied involvement.
‘If you shout one-term and you get beaten up, you should not blame me. I have no goons. They claim I own goons….what they call goons are peaceful young men who maintain peace in the county,’ Arati said recently.
The governor has also previously remarked at a public meeting that he could not know if somebody was attacked ‘at the back,’ and advised people to keep the company of their friends if they wished to remain safe.
Critics interpreted the remarks as insensitive, although Arati has maintained that he neither sponsors nor condones violence.
The growing tension has attracted the attention of national security agencies, with Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat issuing a stern warning against politicians recruiting young people to intimidate opponents last month.
‘The regional commanders and the provincial administration are all concerned about the issue of goons,’ said Lagat.
‘Young people are being used by individuals in societywhether politicians or anyone else who decide to recruit them and offer cheap money to advance criminal activities.’
He went on: ‘I want to emphasise that this is criminal in itself. We will not entertain it, regardless of who you are in society.’
The DIG said that using young people to promote crimes, especially as Kenya approaches the political campaign period must stop.
He added that Kenya’s youth should be engaged in productive economic activities rather than being paid small amounts of money to participate in criminal acts.