There was gun drama at a popular bar when Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and Woman Representative Rachael Shebesh were involved in a scuffle over a Sh8.5 million Range Rover.
Police have summoned both Sonko and Shebesh and their bodyguards for grilling on Monday following the confrontation.
Shebesh’s bodyguard was forced to shoot in the air two times during the drama to disperse what he called an angry mob that wanted to attack his boss.
Kilimani head of CID George Ojuka who visited Caribea Club where the drama happened on Saturday night said no injury was reported but many patrons were scared.
He said they are looking for Shebesh’ bodyguard who is not a police officer but licensed to carry a gun so that they can disarm and charge him in court.
“He has gone underground but we are looking for him. He should surrender the weapon before we take further action on him including charging him before a court of law for causing disturbance and misusing the weapon,” said Ojuka.
Ojuka said witness accounts indicated that Sonko had arrived at the club at about 7 pm in a group of about 30 people and found Shebesh also there with her supporters.
Each group sat in separate places but Shebesh apparently started to daunt Sonko’s group shouting at him and his supporters.
“This degenerated to a bitter exchange before one of the armed people there suddenly shot in the air which we think was unwarranted,” said Ojuka.
And after the gunshots rent the air, Shebesh and her group left the club in a huff as the other patrons including Sonko took cover.
The other patrons also left the club later on.
Shebesh could not be reached for a comment regarding the drama. She did not respond to our calls.
Sonko said he had arrived at the club and found Shebesh with a Nairobi County MCA and about 10 people.
“I went into a private cubicle with a lawyer as my people sat at a different corner with their food and drinks. When I went for a shortcall, one or two of the men who were with her followed me asking why I had taken away a four wheel drive car that I had bought her,” said Sonko.
Sonko explained the car in question is a Rangerover that he had bought for Shebesh at Sh8.5 million but paid Sh4.5 million.
The sellers of the car later reclaimed it after Sonko failed to pay the balance.
“But you know my friendship with Shebesh ended long time ago and I cannot pay the rest of the money. It was upon her to pay the money.”
He added after the confrontation in the toilet, he decided to drive to Kilimani police station and report a threat to his life.
“I reported the matter without even my bodyguards and supporters knowing and came back to the club. I then made a post on my Facebook account on the issue, which I think infuriated her and her people,” said Sonko.
Sonko told the club management to ensure his safety because of the threats as he went on with his meeting.
In the Facebook post he said: “I’m just from a funeral of my late family’s driver who’s been laid to rest at his family home a few hours ago. After delivering my speech I told the people who escorted me to the funeral to meet me at my usual joint Azalea (Caribea), Wood Avenue for thanks giving dinner but I’m shocked to find a politician well known to me with his/her 30 people who keep on shouting and threatening me but all the same I’m playing it cool.”
He said it was after the posting that more of his supporters arrived in buses.
And after a short while, Shebesh’s group confronted his for a while before two shots were fired sending the mood into panic.
Police arrived there minutes later and collected the cartridges. Sonko and Shebesh’s relationship in the city politics has been an on and off issue which has derailed development at large.
Sonko urged police to investigate the matter and take action on those behind it. –The Standard
