"It was premeditated!" Activist Morara Kebaso narrates Bomas ordeal

Morara Kebaso, a political activist, has shed more light on the attack he endured during last Friday's event at the Bomas of Kenya.

The event, which was organised to debate the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, turned chaotic when Kebaso was assaulted shortly after arriving.

Kebaso reported encountering hostility immediately upon his arrival. According to him, a group of unidentified individuals threw chairs at him, leaving him with head, neck, and leg injuries. Reflecting on the ordeal, Kebaso believes the attack was premeditated, and he had walked into a trap laid specifically for him.

"I had announced my position on my TikTok and X that we impeach both the President and Deputy President, and having done that, there were people who were uncomfortable with that," Kebaso explained during an interview with Spice FM.

Kebaso recounted his experience from the moment he arrived at the venue.

"Police officers at the main gate prevented me from entering, but members of the public forced them to let me in," he said. However, upon reaching the entrance of the auditorium, he faced further obstacles.

"I was then prevented from entering the door at Bomas. I went to another door, and I was still prevented, and also to the third door. I came back to the first door and found a high-ranking officer who said that I could only go in with one person, and I think that is where my security was compromised."

Tensions escalated

Inside the auditorium, tensions escalated. Kebaso noted that the event’s MC, Ruaraka Member of Parliament TJ Kajwang', was not pleased when the crowd demanded that he be given a chance to speak.

Goons attack activist Morara Kebaso at the Bomas of Kenya during the public participation on DP Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment.

🎥: CITIZEN TV pic.twitter.com/JjPoWpGO9E

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) October 4, 2024

"It's the public that demanded that I speak, but it was not the wish of the MC TJ Kajwang' that I speak," said Kebaso. He added that Kajwang' even suggested that he should not be handed the microphone as it might disrupt the meeting.

According to Kebaso, the situation quickly spiralled out of control. He saw a group of "goons" emerge from behind the podium, and they immediately began throwing chairs at him.

"They have been identified—most of them work for Kajwang, others for Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North MP), and others for George Aladwa (Makadara MP). They started moving tables, picked chairs, and started throwing them at me," he alleged.

Caught in the chaos, Kebaso attempted to remain calm but found himself trapped. "When it got serious, I tried to escape, but the exit toward the side I was heading was closed, so I was cornered. My bodyguard was injured, and I was hit by more than 30 chairs," he said. In a bid to protect him, some members of the public placed chairs on top of him to shield him from the barrage.

Eventually, an officer and several Good Samaritans intervened, helping Kebaso escape the auditorium. He was rushed to Nairobi Hospital before being transferred to another facility.

"When it went viral that I was in Nairobi Hospital, I went to another hospital because, at this time, I didn't know what I was dealing with, and I don't know how the security situation was," he explained.

Despite the attack, Kebaso reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for accountability and transparency in governance.

"This week, I am beginning a campaign for reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) because we want to recall members of parliament who no longer represent the voice of the people," he stated.

Kebaso also reiterated his belief that Kenya’s leadership has failed to deliver on its promises and should be removed from power. "It is my personal belief that Gachagua is a worse leader than President William Ruto in terms of what he stands for and his history of corruption. I think he should be impeached. The only problem is that the people impeaching him also deserve to be impeached."