Despite denying claims that he was slapped by Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, an exclusive amateur video reveals that Antony Kibagendi was indeed slapped at Kisii Sports Club on Friday.
In a statement, Kibagendi insisted that the DG only tried to slap him, a claim which contradicts his admission in the video that was released later on Friday evening.
"What happened is that I was waiting for the DP at Kisii Sports Club,Maangi called me to the side, he asked why I keep taking Hon. Onyonka to the DP, I told him that the DP and Onyonka have their own friendship,then I told him very respectfully that I dont think he can be elected to be governor of Kisii County, which is my opinion, he hurriedly tried to slap me and ran into a group of bodyguards who were standing nearby. That is all," he said.
But in the video, Mr Kibagendi is seen trying to retaliate after being slapped only to be restrained by a group of Mr Maangi bodyguards, the police and Kisii Central MCA Mr Mrefu.
In the footage, Kibagendi is heard complaining of being slapped, insisting that he would not let the matter go even as onlookers tried to persuade him to let the matter settle until the DP left the place.
"He started it all and has even slapped me. I just told him the truth that's why he's furious. This matter will not end like that. He must pay for this," he says in the footage.
While Kibagendi plays a key role at DP's Harambee Annex as Youth Secretary, Maangi is directly in charge of strategic planning across Kisii and Nyamira Counties in Team Ruto ahead of 2022.
It was the 12th time Mr Ruto was visiting the larger Gusii region, which is projected to have at least 1.5 million voters by 2022 when the country goes to polls.
The region will be indispensable in the next polls and has traditionally voted for opposition leader Raila Odinga for over a decade now. Maangi is said to have been unhappy with Kibagendi's soft spot on Richard Onyonka in Kisii gubernatorial seat.
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