“OUR LIVES ARE IN DANGER”: MT. ELGON LEADERS DEMAND PROBE INTO WASAMA MURDER

Fear and tension have gripped Mt. Elgon following the fatal shooting of former Chesikaki Ward MCA Nathan Wasama, with a group of political leaders now claiming their lives are at risk.

Wasama was shot dead by unknown assailants at his home on Thursday night, sparking calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his killing.

Political leaders and aspirants seeking various elective positions in the 2027 General Election visited the mortuary in Kimilili, where Warsama’s body is being preserved, and demanded that the government move swiftly to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible.

Mt. Elgon parliamentary aspirant Patrick Chemosit said Wasama’s family and residents deserved answers over the killing.

 “We want a thorough investigation to establish who killed our colleague and the motive behind the killing. We cannot remain silent while our people are being killed,” said Chemosit.

The leaders, led by Michael Maruti, who is seeking the Mt. Elgon Ward Representative seat, claimed they had received threats from a politician in the area and expressed fears that Warsama’s killing could have a political dimension.

They alleged that some of the threats had previously been reported to police but claimed no decisive action had been taken.

According to the leaders, the situation has heightened anxiety among politicians and residents as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election. Some of the aspirants claimed they had been threatened or attacked because of their political activities.

They further alleged that the politician they accuse of issuing threats had been boasting about having close connections with senior officials within the national security establishment, allegedly making him believe that no action would be taken against him.

The leaders also claimed that Warsama had previously been involved in political disagreements with incumbent Mt. Elgon MP Fred Kapondi.

They alleged that the two had, on several occasions, exchanged heated words in public, with Warsama reportedly being a vocal critic of the MP over constituency development projects and the management of public funds.

However, the allegations remain unverified, and no evidence has been publicly presented linking any individual, including Kapondi or the politician accused of issuing threats, to Warsama’s killing.

The leaders have called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to intervene and strengthen security in Mt. Elgon to protect political leaders and residents.

They warned that failure by the government to address their concerns could push them to organise a protest march to the Interior Ministry to demand action over what they described as deteriorating security in the region.

They also called for accountability over statements they claim have threatened their safety and undermined emerging political leaders in the area.

Among those present during the visit were Michael Maruti, an aspiring Ward Representative; Patrick Chemosit, an aspiring Member of Parliament; Patrick Kosum, an aspiring Senator; and Francis Kiboi, a friend of the late Warsama.

Police are expected to intensify investigations into the killing as questions continue to surround the motive behind the shooting and the identity of the assailants.

Authorities have yet to publicly disclose details of the investigation or identify any suspects in connection with the murder.