Bungoma politician Zachariah Barasa faced a disturbing incident on Sunday when his home was attacked by unidentified individuals.
The armed attackers, who arrived around midnight, set fire to his front gate and caused significant chaos outside his residence. Witnesses report hearing gunshots, smashed glass bottles, and burning tyres near the property. Taking to social media on Monday, Barasa expressed his frustration over the lack of immediate response from law enforcement despite contacting them promptly.
He further stated that the incident and the current lack of effective leadership in Bungoma aim to silence his efforts in advocating for the rights of ordinary citizens. His brother Martin Nyongesa echoed this sentiment, vowing to continue their criticism of the county government in their fight for the people’s interests. The police have denied Barasa’s claims of inaction and confirmed the launch of an investigation into the attack.
Local supporters and family members of the politician suspect a link between the incident and recent demolitions in the county. Barasa previously led protests against the demolitions arguing that they unfairly targeted ordinary citizens while sparing the properties of influential individuals. Barasa, a member of the DAP-K party under the Azimio coalition received the endorsement of party leader Eugene Wamalwa for his 2027 gubernatorial bid.
This move came after his departure from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party, through which he contested the gubernatorial seat in 2022.
