Nairobi County Women Representative Rachel Shebesh (left) talks about her health on September 08, 2013, two days after a scuffle with the Nairobi County governor Evans Kidero. Looking on is her husband Frank Shebesh. Photo\DENISH OCHIENG
The husband of Nairobi Women Representative Rachel Shebesh says he is ready to forgive Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero for allegedly slapping his wife on condition that he apologises.
In an exclusive interview with the Nation on Sunday, Mr Frank Shebesh said he had received calls from Dr Kidero’s allies apologising on the governor’s behalf.
Mr Shebesh, who declined to name the people who had contacted him, said he would forgive Dr Kidero if he admits that what he did to his wife was wrong.
“If he is man enough to apologise to me personally, then I will accept the apology,” he told the Nation at his Nairobi home.
Mr Shebesh, who was accompanied by his wife, said if Dr Kidero continued “peddling lies that he was assaulted by his wife’, then he would take the matter to court.
“We are civilised and we believe in the rule of the law. We will exhaust all our options,” he said.
Mrs Shebesh accused Dr Kidero of slapping her when she led a group of striking county workers, who are demanding a pay rise, on Friday.
After the incident, Dr Kidero denied the claim, saying he had no recollection of the event. He later recorded a statement at Central Police Station, where he accused Mrs Shebesh of assaulted him.
Mr Shebesh, who said he has never beaten his wife, termed Dr Kidero’s move to report the matter to the police as “an act of impunity and a deceptive ploy meant to hoodwink the law enforcement agencies.”
He added that when he received the news on his mobile phone, he felt he should have been there to defend his wife. “My first thoughts were that I wish I was there. I felt that it was very unfortunate that I was not there…to protect her defenceless soul from that barbaric act,” he said.
Mrs Shebesh said that the incident would not cow her in her efforts to defend the rights women and workers.
Nairobi Senator Gideon Mbuvi also offered to reconcile Dr Kidero and Mrs Shebesh as he accused some “political brokers” of turning the spate into a political issue.
“Both Dr Kidero and Mrs Shebesh are leaders but they are also human beings and we should not rush into judging them,” he said.
He said the county’s elected leaders were scheduled to meet today to find a solution to the problem.
The workers’ umbrella union, Cotu, called on the governor to leave office for what it termed as lack of integrity. “We find his conduct lacking in decorum, sobriety and integrity required of his office and that is why his tenure has become untenable,” said Cotu assistant secretary-general George Muchai.
Meanwhile, a guard on Sunday claimed he was assaulted by Mrs Shebesh.
Mr Kazungu Changawa said he reported the matter to Kileleshwa Police Station after Mrs Shebesh allegedly slapped him a month ago for a delay in opening the gate to her home.
“I tried to explain to her that I was speaking to my supervisor but she became hysterical and slapped me. I want justice,” Mr Changawa, who works with Watchdog Security, said.
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