MP Samuel Atandi arrested ‘while attempting to flee in Probox’

By Mary Goretty Juma in Siaya County.

Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi has been arrested.

Atandi, who is accused of assault, was arrested a few minutes to 4pm Thursday, a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak publicly, told K24 Digital.

“The MP has just been arrested. He was trying to hide in a group of youths on the Bondo-Siaya road. The group, which was behaving strangely, caught the attention of police.

“When cops approached the group, the lawmaker, who was among them, attempted to enter a Toyota Probox so that he could flee. He was, however, cornered and apprehended before he could escape,” the junior cop, who witnessed the arrest, told K24 Digital at 3:50pm.

Atandi was driven to Siaya Police Station, where he will be held as investigations into his alleged offence continue.

Siaya Deputy County Commissioner Eric Wamulevu confirmed Atandi’s arrest, but directed K24 Digital to reach Siaya OCPD Chris Ben for comment.

On Thursday morning, police said that they were hunting Atandi for allegedly assaulting a chief in Siaya County.

South East Alego Chief, Joseph Ogutu Onjala, who is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Siaya Town, claimed Atandi and his bodyguards stormed his home at 6pm Wednesday and assaulted him, causing him head and chest injuries.

Onjala alleged Atandi had accused him of hiring youth to disrupt a Wednesday event presided over by the MP.

Earlier Wednesday, the legislator commissioned the renovation of classrooms at Unna Primary School, a function which aborted after youth disrupted the ceremony.

After word got around that Atandi had attacked the local chief, leaving him unconscious, tens of youth pursued the MP, who rushed to the nearby Nyangoma Police Station for refuge.

While at the station, the MP, however, recorded a statement, saying his function had been disrupted by rowdy youth, who wanted to harm him.

It remains unclear how the parliamentarian managed to get out of police protection.

Reports suggested that Chief Onjala’s assistant also went missing in unexplained circumstances.

Siaya County Commissioner Michael ole Tialal told K24 Digital that police had, Thursday morning, launched a hunt for MP Atandi.

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

Tensions flared Thursday morning after tens of boda boda operators gathered in Siaya Town to protest against Atandi’s unexplained “escape” from Nyangoma Police Station.