Kisii Governor Simba Arati is in the eye of a fresh political storm over claims that he was the bonafide regional community spokesman.
The utterances made at a burial in Nyamira Tuesday have ignited huge controversy on who between the ODM party deputy leader and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi should be the community spokesperson.
Politicians especially those allied to Matiangi have called the governor to order, feeling perturbed and aghast at the assertions.
Instead, they now accuse him of overstepping his mandate, insisting that he has no authority to position himself as the community’s sole spokesman on national and regional political matters.
Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo and former West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemoso instead told him to “represent himself and his own county, not the two regional devolved units.”
“Gusii has its own elected leaders capable of articulating the concerns and interests of our people and not through Arati,” Gisairo said at a separate function on Christmas eve in his constituency.
“No one has appointed you to speak for the community. In any case the community duly recognizes Fred Matiangi more as its bonafide spokesperson not you Mr Governor,” stated Gisairo.
Kemosi, now an aspirant for the same seat, separately argued that the Abagusii community was diverse and spread across several counties, including Nyamira and Kisii, and therefore cannot be represented by one who “appoints himself”.
Leadership and representation must be based on consultation and respect for existing political structures, he said.
He warned that attempts to monopolize the community’s voice risk creating unnecessary divisions among residents.
They both accused the Kisii governor of using the “community spokesman” label to advance personal political ambitions, especially as national political realignments begin to take shape ahead of future elections.
They said Arati does not have the mandate to speak on behalf of the Gusii community, insisting that the region’s political position can only be articulated through Matiangi .
“We respect Arati as an individual, but he does not represent the collective voice of the Gusii people.
“Any statements he makes should be treated as his personal views, not those of the community,” Kemosi added.
The duo accused Arati of making public remarks on national politics and government affairs while implying he enjoyed the backing of Gusii leaders, a claim they termed misleading and divisive.
“Our community speaks through dialogue and consensus, not self-appointed spokespersons,” said Gisairo.
Arati, a former Member of County Assembly turned MP and later Governor has recently been vocal on political realignments and governance issues, drawing both support and criticism from different quarters.
On Tuesday, during the burial he said as a community spokesman he would soon give the community direction.
The governor is currently pushing the two term President William Ruto narrative and rubbishing the Fred Matiangi’s Presidential bid.
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