Kisii Governor Simba Arati has distanced himself from the raging bodaboda wars in his county.
Instead, he wants South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro charged for the felony claiming he was the "merchant" of the faction wars which have resulted in one death.
"The violence bears his stamp and thumbprints after the raid and attack on doctors at Nduru Level 5 hospital a fortnight ago," the governor said.
"The same has now come to town and sponsored the suspected killing of a poor rider just because he was clad in a vest with my name written on it," the enraged governor said.
Osoro however denied the claims. He instead told him to take ownership of the thuggery.
"He is in charge of the County and mine is a small constituency. He should take responsibility for what is going on there," Osoro said in a text.
Arati was speaking at the Magenche area in Bomachoge Borabu during a function Wednesday evening.
The leaders' remarks came hours apart after the County Security team led by County Commissioner Tom Anjere fingered two elected leaders from the region for the violence.
Anjere ordered the security agencies to undertake a probe on the two with a view to taking action.
He said any arrest and prosecution of the would-be perpetrators would be based on the evidence found during the probe.
At least one person has since succumbed to the faction wars.
The rider died late Tuesday at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.
He was among the group of thugs who squared it out Monday evening with machetes and metal bars at Nubia in Nyanchwa, part of Kitutu Chache South.
Arati accused the national government of doing little to tame anarchy in the region.
"My question is what Kindiki is doing to tame this madness, how many people does he want dead to tackle this menace? he posed.
Any political leaders facilitating the goons including himself, if found culpable should be held accountable, the governor said.
Further failure by security agencies to act would force the residents to begin defending themselves, he added.
"We tell them not to test these people's patience, and stop this nonsense of bringing violence into them," Arati told journalists.