Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko has escaped death at a whisker after an assassin fired bullets at his rally.
It is reported that an unidentified man hurled tear gas canisters at a political rally that was being addressed by Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko before he pulled the trigger.
Ayacko who has expressed his interest to succeed outgoing Migori Governor Okoth Obado in the 2022 General Election was addressing a rally at Ragana Ward in Suna West on Sunday, December 19, when the incident happened.
The senator’s security created a human shield around Ayacko before calm was restored since there were no police officers at the rally.
Speaking moments later after calm was restored; the lawmaker without mentioning names blamed the attack on his competitors whom he accused of applying thuggery to heighten political temperatures.
“This is an extreme provocation that I cannot entertain going forward. My opponents have started feeling jittery and are out to stop our bid,
“They are applying violence to create an implication that we are warmongers. It is good they are sending early signals. I’m urging all my supporters to exercise restraint going forward as no amount of intimidation will stop my quest to succeed Governor Okoth Obado,” Ayacko said as quoted by the Daily Nation.
Ayacko’s failed assassination comes barely days after Migori County Secretary Christopher Rusana was attacked in a similar manner.
In November elders drawn from Suna East and Suna West constituencies had gathered to endorse Rusana’s gubernatorial bid.
“The attack has proven that people who keep saying I have no support base have panicked, lobbing teargas in this function shows we are strong and nothing will stop our march to form the next government,” Rusana said while condemning the attack.
Migori Woman Representative Pamela Odhiambo, former Migori MP John Pesa, businessmen Owiso Ngao and Philip Mwabe are all eying to succeed Migori Governor Okoth Obado.
Others who have thrown their hat in the ring are former Cabinet minister Dalmas Otieno, County Assembly speaker Boaz Okoth and US-based university don Mark Ogutu.
