Ugly scenes as coalition parties fight
The two leading political alliances are locked in intense sibling rivalries and divisive intra-coalition competition that could heavily undermine their performance during the August 9 General Election.
Scenes of fights and offensive word exchanges have been witnessed in both Deputy President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition.
Over the weekend in Murang’a, governorship aspirants in Kenya Kwanza engaged in a fight that led to the destruction of campaign vehicles and injuring of some members.
The incident was between Irungu Nyakera, who is flying the Farmers Party ticket, and former Water PS Wairagu wa Maai on the Democratic Party (DP) ticket.
Nyakera claims his caravan was on a meet-the-people-tour in Gaturi ward when his supporters ran into Wairagu wa Maai’s caravan in Gaturi and a scuffle ensued. He said Wairagu’s supporters attacked his vehicles breaking windscreens, while others who were armed with machetes started attacking his supporters.
“As a result, a few people were injured and they were taken to hospital for treatment and they also recorded a statement with the police,” he said.
Nyakera said he was aware Wairagu was touring the area but he had instructed his people to know the route he was to follow to avoid collision.
“This was my last ward to tour after visiting all 34 wards in the county I could not have gone anywhere else,” added Nyakera.
On his part Wairagu said Nyakera is to blame for the incident claiming they had planned for the tour in the area a week earlier.
“We had followed the due process in planning for the tour and had notified the police but Nyakera decided to follow us on the same route,” he said.
In the Azimio camp, rivalry between Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga and former Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero could be far from over after supporters of the two clashed at a function that left both sides blaming each other
While Kidero blamed Wanga for organising goons to heckle and disrupt his rallies, she, too, dismissed the claims saying it was Kidero’s own machinations.
The blame games come hot on the heels of intensifying campaigns by both sides eyeing the Homa Bay governor seat currently held by Cyprian Awiti.
Wanga wants to succeed Awiti as ODM governor candidate, while Kidero is running as an independent candidates.
Yesterday, Kidero wrote a protest letter to the police and IEBC and circulated it on social media saying Wanga was to blame for alleged fanning electoral violence. His campaign chairman Sam Omboya protested over an incident in Wagwe in North Karachuonyo where their campaign convoy landed into chaos.
It is alleged that the attackers were ferried from Ndhiwa sub county where they had met at sitting MCA’s home on Sunday morning.
“Our attention has been drawn to senseless attacks on innocent people in Wagwe, North Karachuonyo Ward by people believed to have been sent by our opponent in the Homa Bay gubernatorial race,’’ read part of the statement
Yesterday, Omboya issued a statement condemning acts of aggression and provocation when a fleet of vehicles branded in images of their opponent.
But Wanga, too, wants the electoral agency to take legal action against politicians who commit electoral offences during the campaign period.
