By Ruth Sang
A Senate Finance and Budget Committee press briefing in Kisii turned violent on Monday afternoon after a group of unidentified goons stormed the meeting, disrupting proceedings and assaulting members of the delegation, parliamentary staff, and journalists.
The committee, led by Mandera Senator Ali Ndume, was in Kisii as part of a nationwide audit tour scrutinizing county expenditures. The briefing, held at the Kisii County Assembly precincts, had just begun addressing concerns of alleged financial irregularities when the assailants burst in.
“It was total mayhem. We had barely started when they stormed in—some were shouting, others armed with sticks. We had to run for safety,” said Senator Ndume, visibly shaken but uninjured.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with overturned chairs, scattered documents, and injured attendees scrambling for cover. At least five individuals sustained minor injuries, including media personnel and parliamentary staffers.
Police on site were initially caught off guard but later managed to regain control of the situation using tear gas to disperse the attackers. As of the time of publishing, no arrests had been confirmed, though authorities said investigations were underway.
The Kisii County Government is under Senate scrutiny for suspected mismanagement of public funds—ranging from inflated procurement contracts to unexplained budget variances and missing documentation.
“This kind of intimidation will not derail our work,” said Senator Tabitha Mutinda, a member of the committee. “If anything, it only strengthens our resolve. It raises even more red flags about the depths of what some may be trying to cover up.”
The incident drew sharp condemnation from leaders and civil society organizations across the country.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, though not part of the visiting delegation, denounced the attack. “We cannot allow our democratic institutions to be attacked by hired goons. This is a direct affront to accountability and justice,” he said in a statement.
Security in Kisii town has since been heightened, with police pledging to pursue and arrest those responsible.
The Senate committee affirmed that it will proceed with its oversight activities in Kisii and other counties as planned.
“The Senate has a constitutional mandate to oversee the use of public resources. No amount of violence or threats will stop us from doing our job,” said Senator Ndume.
The incident has reignited national debate over the safety of public officials and the growing hostility faced by oversight bodies, especially in counties grappling with governance issues.
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