UDA protests over violence, threatens to sue Mutyambai

Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) says it will sue Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai over violence unleashed on its members during rallies across the country.

Reacting to weekend incidents in Nairobi and Kitale where UDA events were disrupted, party officials accused the police of turning a blind eye to goons who continue to torment them.

The party demands Interior ministry and the National Police Service address the deteriorating situation. Investigations must be concluded speedily and perpetrators brought to book, the officials demanded. 

UDA national chair Johnstone Muthama asked Mutyambai to take immediate action and apprehend those behind the skirmishes at Jacaranda Grounds in Embakasi East where a rally addressed by the DP was temporary disrupted by violent goons.

 “The party will be writing to know progress of investigations on these unfortunate incidents,” Muthama told a press conference at the party headquarters yesterday. 

UDA officials also want Mutyambai to explain why MPs allied to the party were stopped from addressing a rally in Kitale, Trans Nzoia county. 

“The MPs were addressing locals after a church service; other leaders from the area have been allowed to talk to the people at the same place. The police should not be used to decide who addresses people and who does not,” Muthama charged.

On Sunday, goons pelted a meeting addressed by the DP with stones before they were repulsed by anti-riot police.

Ugly scenes

Addressing the rally, Ruto accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of orchestrating the chaos.  Raila, according to the DP, has a history of planning violence, adding that he will not be intimidated by any form of aggression by his competitors.

 “The violent ugly scenes of stone throwing meted by hired ODM hooligans are unfortunate and bad to our country; immediate action should be taken on the perpetrators,” said party secretary general Veronica Maina.

uda said the weekend disruptions were the latest in a series of hooliganism targeted at the party. 

According to Maina, On September 5, 2021, in Kieni, Nyeri county, the Deputy President’s motorcade was stoned and barely two months later in a more brazen attack Ruto’s cars were again stoned in Kondele, Kisumu county, on October 10, 2021.

“ODM continues to propagate its well-earned reputation of violence with little action from security apparatus. As the country gears for the General Election, ODM has left no doubt that it will use violence as part of its strategy,” read a statement from the party.  It added: “Kenyans are watching to see whether Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i, who has publicly supported Raila’s quest for the presidency, will drop his political hat and act to save Kenyans from his political master’s crusade for violence. This trend is not acceptable.”

Maina said Matiang’i, despite being entrusted with maintaining peace and order, continues to remain silent “and is in no doubt emerging as a cheerleader of such intolerant and unacceptable behaviour”.

“UDA and Kenyans at large are watching keenly to see whether the minister will be quick to bring to book the instigators of weekend’s violence at Jacaranda Grounds,” she added.  

Party also called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to rein in political players who are not committed to peaceful campaigns. 

But in a statement, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna dismissed claims that their supporters were behind the chaos.  He said the UDA brigade’s was in a desperate campaign” to deflect attention from the madoadoa grave they dug themselves into.” 

 “We want the violence network in UDA to know that ODM will not carry your madoadoa burden,” in reference to the madoadoa slur by Meru Senator Mithika Linturi.