The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has strongly condemned the recent attack on Busia senator Okiya Omtatah's home in Kwang'amor village, Busia county.
The Raila Odinga-led party condemned the incident, saying every Kenyan must always be guaranteed their safety. The party also called on the government to expedite investigations and ensure those involved are brought to book.
"We condemn in the strongest terms possible the continued harassment of the Senator of Busia Okiya Omtatah, the latest being the raid on his rural home by unknown people who were demanding to know his whereabouts. Every Kenyan including leaders must be guaranteed their safety at all times. We call on the government to move quickly and investigate the claims," the party said on its X account.
During the early morning incident, the armed attackers raided the senator's home and subjected his relatives to harassment and assault.
Narrating the incident, Omtatah's younger brother, Isdor, said the attackers dressed in balaclavas stormed his brother's house at 2 am and relentlessly harassed their relatives demanding details on Omtatah's whereabouts.
He added that the thugs accosted his wife as she was going to help herself, they beat her up before dragging her to a swamp after she refused to reveal the whereabouts of Omtatah.
“They grabbed my wife after she went to help herself. Beat her and tried to force her to reveal the senator’s whereabouts. When she refused, they dragged her towards the swamp but she raised an alarm that attracted my uncle and other people who rushed to her rescue," Isdor revealed.
The senator's sister-in-law is currently nursing serious tissue injuries after the incident.
Addressing the matter, Omtatah stated that he was not home when the unexpected events unfolded, he also addressed the attackers saying he does not meet anyone at night and that anyone interested in meet-ups should do so during official working hours.
"We do not know who those people were but we suspect they were in the compound for some time because they claimed they knew the compound very well. I left home on Tuesday evening after a series of functions only to be called at 2 am to be told there were people in my compound looking for me. I do not meet anyone at night. Those who want to see me know they can see me during official working hours but not at night," Omtatah said.
Police arrived at the scene and have since launched investigations on the matter.