Kibwana was almost killed, says witness

A witness in the petition to suspend Makueni County government yesterday said Governor Kivutha Kibwana escaped an assassination attempt last year.

Mr Francis Mailu told the commission in Wote Town that an aide of the Assembly Speaker attempted to shoot the county boss on September 23.

He added that Prof Kibwana “ducked the bullets”, which instead injured four other people, among them the governor’s chief of staff Douglas Mbilu.

“I then saw a man lying beside me crying for help,” Mr Mailu said.

He added that the shooting occurred outside the assembly building where a group of residents, which had responded to an invitation by politicians to a peace rally, was meeting.

He said the group was denied entry into the assembly hall where the politicians had convened.

Upon request by the lawyers representing those against the petition, the commission, led by Mr Mohammed Nyaoga, allowed the playing of short video clips allegedly recorded during the shooting.

In one of the clips, Mr Mailu, who is in a black jacket, is seen among a group that is chanting anti-Kibwezi West MP Patrick Musimba slogans.

Pressed by the county assembly lawyers, Mr Mailu admitted that he led the chanting.

He said he was appalled by the fact that Mr Musimba remained behind when the other leaders drove away after the shooting.

In another clip, a man in a suit is seen lying in a parking lot before he is quickly taken away by a group. He is bleeding from the head.

An unidentified man then says the leaders had convened the meeting to impeach Mr Kibwana. He accuses the governor of corruption and misuse of funds meant for the construction of a fruit factory.

Mr Mailu remained calm during the cross examination and when the clips were playing.

Mr Nyaoga said anyone who came with video clips would be cross examined thoroughly to determine their authenticity.