Harrison Kivisu, Dorcas Mbatia and Githinji Mwangi @PeopleDailyKe
Jamhuri Day celebrations in Meru, Mombasa and Kirinyaga counties were disrupted after supporters of public political rivalry. In Meru, celebrations ended in disarray following altercations from two opposing political camps — the Party of National Unity (PNU) and Jubilee Party.
Trouble began when Governor Peter Munya and Senator Kiraitu Murungi’s supporters started shouting each other down over who is popular in the region. Munya and Kiraitu will be contesting the county’s top seat but on different parties.
Police lobbed tear gas canisters in the air to disperse the charged crowd that were, on one side chanting anti-Jubilee slogans, while the other was singing anti-PNU song. In Mombasa, police were called in to maintain order after supporters of Governor Hassan Joho and those of Nyali MP Awiti Bollo clashed during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at the Tononoka Grounds.
The two leaders will be facing off for the governor’s seat in next year’s elections. While Joho will be seeking to defend the seat on an ODM ticket, Awiti will be vying on a Wiper ticket. Trouble started after Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki stood to deliver the President’s speech when anti-Joho supporters stormed the ground chanting; “Joho Must Go”, a move that provoked a reaction from Joho’s supporters.
The rival groups engaged in a war of words in front of the two leaders. At Meru Technical Polytechnic, Munya, Kiraitu and several other MPs were forced to hurriedly leave the celebrations escorted by heavy security after the charged crowd starting throwing chairs at each other.
Munya declined to fold up PNU to join the Jubilee Party as Kiraitu’s party and several others supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta have done. County Commissioner Wilfred Nyawanga was forced to cut short the celebrations. “I am appalled by the manner in which residents have conducted themselves.
It seems that the intention of some people who arrived in groups was far from celebrating Jamhuri,” said a visibly agitated Nyawanga. Later, the two groups held separate conferences with each blaming the other for the incidence.
Munya accused Kiraitu, Meru Women’s Rep Florence Kajuju and Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, who are now being referred to as the Kikali team, of disrupting the celebrations by deploying hooligans.
Kiraitu accused Munya of blocking the celebrations by causing chaos. In Kirinyaga county, one person was injured when chaos erupted during the celebrations at General Kassam Stadium in Gichugu constituency. Hell broke loose when a group of about 50 inebriated youth stormed the stadium accompanied by Gichugu MP seat aspirant Gichimu Githinji and started chanting slogans in his support.
The youth violently pushed the residents who had attended the celebrations. The celebrations were temporaly disrupted when Gichugu MP Njogu Barua’s supporters intervened, breaking into a fist fight that temporarily disrupted the function.
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