Drama as Kenya Kwanza blocked from Bukhungu
Deputy President William Ruto and other leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance were yesterday blocked from gaining access to the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega town for a rally.
It was a day of chaos and drama as hundreds of supporters who had turned up for the event engaged security personnel in running battles.
Others broke into song and dance outside the stadium and on roads in the town.
Heavily armed police and county security enforcement officers had cordoned off the facility.
Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali was manhandled by the security personnel when he attempted to force his way into the stadium.
“Bukhungu is a public facility and we are entitled to use it because we followed all the procedures,” he protested.
However, his screams landed on deaf ears and he was roughed-up and frogmarched from the stadium’s entrance before his bodyguards whisked him to safety.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah also protested saying they had applied to use the facility and were given the green light by Kakamega County government.
“We applied to the county government and they accepted. They even asked us to pay Sh900,000 today as fees before we could access it. We have the cash with us but they have declined. This is unacceptable,” said Malalah.
He added that the county government had changed tune when they arrived with the cash and told them that the stadium was undergoing cleanliness and would only be available after a week.
Drama and chaos continued to play out as crowds surged. Ruto in the company of, among others, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi arrived in the afternoon but were unable to make their way into the stadium.
They then herded their supporters heading towards Amalemba grounds about 10km away but retreated after being informed that there was another heavy presence of security personnel at the venue.
Ruto and Mudavadi took a swipe at President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, whom they accused of using State machinery to frustrate their campaigns in favour of Azimio-One Kenya Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
“They are busy blocking all available spaces across the country but they will not deter us from forming the next government,” said Mudavadi.
Thankless person
Ruto dismissed President Uhuru as “a thankless and untrustworthy person” who had short-changed him. The politicians were forced to address their supporters along the road in the town.
Earlier, Ruto took the campaigns to his North Rift backyard where he asked the region’s voters to cast all the votes for him to boost his chances of succeeding Uhuru.
Ruto drummed up support for all UDA candidates vying for various positions even as he dismissed independent candidates.
“Please vote six-piece for me in this region. I’ve arranged UDA in other parts of the country and you cannot afford to shame me back here at home. Give me these leaders so that we can team up in opening up the region,” said the DP.
He spoke after attending a church service at the St John Mary Vianney Catholic Church Parish, Kapkenduiywa in Aldai constituency accompanied by Mudavadi among other Kenya Kwanza leaders.
The DP lined up candidates for various positions in the county among them governor Stephen Sang, Senator Samson Cherargei, woman representative candidate Cynthia Muge and National Assembly aspirants.
Harassment claims
Ruto said Raila withdrew from the presidential debate because he ‘fears’ hard questions.
Mudavadi called on residents to turn-up in large numbers and cast their votes for Kenya Kwanza even as he exuded confidence that the outfit would carry the day.
In Lamu, Ruto’s running-mate Rigathi Gachagua, accused National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Chairman Eliud Kinuthia for campaigning for Jubilee party in Lamu county.
Gachagua accused NPSC boss of threatening police officers and directing them to harass boda boda operators in the area.
“I want to tell our police officers not be intimidated by Kinuthia, he will go home alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta once he retires,” said Rigathi.
Reporting by Dennis Lumiti, Noah Chepleon, Bernice Mbugua and Wycliff Kipsang
