A bitter public war has erupted between Ichuni Ward MCA Hon. Wycliffe Siocha and Kisii Governor Simba Arati, with the MCA launching scathing accusations of massive corruption and abuse of power.
In a strongly worded statement, MCA Siocha claimed that Governor Arati paraded 30 tractors at Kisii Stadium that were supposedly procured for Ksh 850 million, yet their actual market value could not exceed Ksh 400 million. “Arati is looting the county dry,” Siocha charged.
The MCA further alleged that Governor Arati demands 30% kickbacks on every tender, a practice he says has led to massive inflation of county projects.
Siocha also accused the governor of running a regime of intimidation, blackmail, and sabotage against dissenting MCAs. He claimed that any MCA who opposes Arati is immediately removed from county committees and subjected to political persecution.
Adding a new twist to the drama, MCA Siocha claimed that media houses are currently being called and pressured to delete his press statements and interviews from their platforms in an apparent bid to suppress his voice.
The escalating feud has exposed deep divisions within Kisii County leadership and raised fresh questions about governance and accountability in the devolved unit.As of now, Governor Arati’s office is yet to issue an official response to the serious allegations leveled against him.
This latest public clash comes amid growing scrutiny of county spending and tendering processes across several devolved units in Kenya.