MP wanted for allegedly beating up chief almost to death

Police in Siaya County have launched a manhunt on Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi for allegedly beating up a local chief almost to death. 

South East Alego Chief Joseph Ogutu Onjala stated that on Wednesday night, January 20, Atandi and his bodyguards stormed the chief house and assaulted him brutally, leaving him unconscious. 

The chief was taken to a private hospital in Siaya Town where he is nursing the injuries he sustained. 

According to Onjala, the MP had accused chief of hiring locals to disrupt a ceremony in which the legislator had presided over.

Atandi had commissioned renovations of classrooms at Unna Primary school, Siaya County   earlier on Wednesday. 

After allegedly assaulting the chief, angry locals who heard about the incident pursued him, prompting him to seek refuge at Nyangoma police station.

The MP recorded a statement at the station claiming that his function had been disrupted by rowdy youth who wanted to harm him. It is, however, unclear how he managed to leave the police station.

Siaya County Commissioner Michael ole Tialal confirmed the reports noting that Chief Onjala's assistant had also gone missing in mysterious circumstances.

“We do not where he is, but once we apprehend him, we shall subject him to investigations and subsequent legal action,” Tialal stated referring to Atandi.

In January 2019, reports indicated that Atandi was also on the spot for an alleged assault case, whereby he attacked a government officer by slapping her on the face. 

However, the MP denied the accusations arguing that his political rivals propagated the allegations.