Arati scoffs at Ongwae bid to plant challenger in 2027 polls

Kisii Governor Simba Arati on Friday scoffed off the bid by some local leaders to sponsor a challenger against him in the 2027 polls.

Former Kisii Governor James Ongwae, County Senator Richard Onyonka and Kisii Woman Representative Donya Toto have already expressed support for Dr Enoch Ondari to vie against Mr Arati in the upcoming polls.

Mr Arati and Dr Ondari--the former Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital executive--hail from Bobasi.

On Friday, Mr Arati said he was not a coward and was ready to face anybody challenging him.

He dared those who want to challenge him in the 2027 polls to make good of their threats.

"This seat is open to all… to those who feel can challenge me just come. Let's meet in the ballot that time," the governor said.

He was speaking at a burial in Magenche in Bomachoge Borabu.

He told mourners to gleefully partake money dished out to them during the campaigns “because it was stolen from you in the first place”.

"I have been told they have set aside Sh 250 million... Just receive it..... It is your money anyway," Arati said laughing off the efforts to remove him from office.

The County boss spoke defending himself amid a growing wave of protests from some  local residents now faulting his development score.

For more than a month, the governor had also been battling   torrents of criticism from online activists.

Samuel Okemwa, a former senatorial candidate turned activist had been doing facility visits to various hospitals poking  holes on lack of drugs at the facilties.

At Masimba Sub-County Hospital, Okemwa said Friday he was appalled by the poor standards of bedding at the maternity wards.

He apoke of empty shelves at the drug stores, days after drugs worth more than Sh 68 m were flagged off to hospitals across the region.

On Monday, former Kisii Governor James Ongwae criticized Mr Arati saying he has not added even a single chair to many of the flagship facilties he did while in office.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka also endorsed Dr Ondari urging him to be the torch bearer from Bobasi and thus 'finish the race for governorship' adding that the incumbent has failed.

Kisii County Woman Representative Donya Toto accused Governor Arati of “lacking credible academic papers to run the devolved unit” sparking momentary fracas at the funeral.

On Friday, however, Mr Arati scoffed the bid by the three(3) to coalesce forces around Dr Ondari to challenge him in 2027.

"I have heard some people say the lamp (reffering to himself) has gone out. They are wrong, tell them to expect electricity now going forward," Mr Arati stated.

And speaking in Sameta in Ogembo, the governor separately ordered for the filling up of a quarry where a boy drowned on Wednesday.

The deceased 's body was retrieved by the County's disaster officials Wednesday night after day-long frantic efforts.