The Orange Democratic Party (ODM) has condemned what it terms as mistreatment and harassment of Kisii governor Simba Arati.
The opposition party led by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Principal Raila Odinga was reacting to a standoff that ensued on Monday morning at the Gusii Stadium in Kisii county between Arati and a contingent of General Service Unit officers who had surrounded the entrance of his office located at the stadium that houses his office.
Arati claimed the officers were being used to intimidate him, allegations which the GSU denied.
The governor who was however not blocked from accessing his office linked the occurrence to the registration of boda boda operators Sacco last weekend.
His party however alleged that for the last week, the county boss has not been able to discharge his duties due to the heavy police presence.
“We have information that police are planning a raid on the Governor’s residence in the outskirts of Kisii town, there is no search warrant that has been issued by the courts and we find this to be the highest level of intimidation and coercion” ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
Arati who later addressed the media blamed his political enemies for the unfolding events adding that he was aware of a plot to impeach him.
According to Kisii County Police Commander, Charles Kasese, the officers were dispatched to the location to crack down on rogue bodaboda riders allegedly engaged in criminal activities.
In the recent past, two rival boda boda operator groups have engaged in an altercation within Kisii town.
The Sacco offices have since been closed and an investigation file forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for further action.