Violence rocks another Raila rally after Busia

Chaos rocked the Orange Democratic Movement party rally in Bungoma county presided over by opposition leader Raila Odinga yesterday after police and suspected Ford Kenya youths engaged in running battles.

Police were forced to fire in the air and lob teargas canisters to disperse the armed youths who wanted to disrupt the rally, only two daays after another public rally attended by the former Lang’ata MP was marred by chaos in Busia.

Police managed to overpower the rowdy youth and the meeting proceed. Raila later blamed the chaos on “political cowards” and praised Bungoma people for exhibiting bravery in staying calm.

Raila, who was in the county for the party’s recruitment drive, claimed the high fuel prices was as a result of the government demanding commission from dealers.

High commissions

Speaking at the Posta Grounds, the former Prime Minister said the high commissions being demanded by government officials had led to the skyrocketing prices.

‘’The government is demanding a lot of commission from fuel dealers and that is why the commodity has remained high since the Kenya Kwanza government assumed office,’ he claimed.

‘’Why is Uganda which imports its fuel through the country sell its fuel cheaper than Kenya? It is because of high commissions being demanded by government officials,’’ said Raila.

He was accompanied by former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna and his Vihiga counterpart Godfrey Otsosi, Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, MPs Raphael Wanjala [Budalang’i], Jack Wamboka [Bumula], Catherine Omanyo [Busia Woman Rep] and Caleb Amisi [Saboti].

The ODM leader blamed president William Ruto for lying to Kenyans that he was going to finish cartels in the fuel sector while his own government was demanding commission from the dealers.

He also asked the Kenya Kwanza government to create jobs for its citizens instead of promising them that he was looking for employment in the gulf countries.

‘’It is the responsibility of the government to create jobs for its people but not to request other countries to give them employment,’’ he said.

He said the only jobs president William Ruto was promising Kenyans were only watchmen, cooks and maids in gulf countries.

‘’Why do you want our people to go and work as watchmen and cooks in Arabic countries,’’ posed Raila.
Raila also promised to revamp the party in Bungoma county by recruiting many members.

Orange party popular

He said the popularity of the Orange party had gone down after the last election and asked the delegates to work hard and revive it.

‘’I call upon the chairmen of the branches and the delegates to come out and market the party which was once popular in this county,’’ said Raila.

His sentiments were echoed by Oparanya who asked Bungoma residents to join the party if they wanted one of their own to ascend to the highest office in future.

He said Ford Kenya which had six Members of Parliament (MPs) had no hopes of forming the government in near future.

‘’ODM is a national party and if you want a Luhya to also assume the highest office, then it is only through this party,’’ said Oparanya.