Chaos as Kiplagat, Sudi clash at fundraiser

A fundraising drive to assist victims of a fire that destroyed property in Moi’s Bridge town, Uasin Gishu, descended into a heated exchange between Soy MP David Kiplagat and his Kapseret counterpart, Oscar Sudi.

Sudi, who was both the chief guest and organiser of the event in Soy, found himself at the centre of the tension after Kiplagat arrived with a large group of rowdy youths.

Chaos ensued, briefly disrupting the fundraiser, as some youths stormed the podium where several leaders, including Governors Jonathan Bii of Uasin Gishu, Wisley Rotich of Elgeyo Marakwet, Simon Kachapin of West Pokot, and MPs Didimus Barasa of Kimilili, Eric Wamumbi of Mathira, and Joseph Wainaina (nominated), were gathered.

Chairs were thrown, and blows and kicks were exchanged before police officers from Moi’s Bridge Police Station, located just opposite the venue, restored order.

The conflict escalated when Kiplagat instructed Sudi to stop dictating the proceedings at an event taking place in his constituency. Supporters of the two political leaders clashed further, but order was restored after several minutes of turmoil.

Kiplagat compared Sudi’s actions to a man who inherits his neighbour’s wife while the neighbour is still alive.

“As leaders, we must respect one another. You can’t inherit the wife of your neighbour and then go ahead to impregnate her when you know he is still alive,” Kiplagat told his Kapseret counterpart.

He continued, “Even if you don’t like my face, the people of Soy elected me and gave me the mandate to serve them from 2022 to 2027.”

Kiplagat, a former Speaker of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly, also criticised Governor Jonathan Bii. He pointed out that the county had emergency funds and should have used them to support businesspeople who lost property in the fire, rather than resorting to fundraising.

“The problem with Uasin Gishu County is service delivery. I was Speaker of the Assembly, and we passed emergency funds, which account for two per cent of the total budget. That money should have been used to help businesspeople whose properties were lost, so they could fully recover,” the Soy MP said.

n response, Sudi hit back, calling Kiplagat “retrogressive” and claiming the Soy MP lacked the capacity to threaten anyone.

Sudi asserted that he had the right to organise fundraising events in any constituency and that other leaders were equally free to hold events in his own constituency.

He condemned the disruption of the meeting at Moi’s Bridge, labelling it “foolishness.” He further told Kiplagat to stop lecturing Governor Bii and focus on empowering youth from his constituency.

Governors Stephen Sang and Bii told off the Soy MP and asked him to respect other leaders. Bii said Kiplagat had no moral authority to criticise leaders on development.

“You were a speaker in the previous administration, and you did not procure a single fire engine. The one we found was donated by the national government and another one by well-wishers,” the governor said.

Governor Sang of Nandi County said MPs should stop belittling governors.