Kakamega County government and Ford-Kenya officials clashed Friday over the venue for the launch of Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s presidential campaign, scheduled for tomorrow.
Controversy started after county askaris cordoned off Kakamega’s Muliro Gardens even as Ford-Kenya insisted it would hold the launch at the venue. Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale stormed the grounds accompanied by dozens of Ford-Kenya supporters.
Dr Khalwale said his party had paid for the venue and had a police licence authorising the meeting. “We paid Sh100,000 for the venue. If governor (Wycliffe) Oparanya has another function at Muslim Primary School tomorrow (Saturday), he is free to hold it,” said Dr Khalwale.
He accused Mr Oparanya of fighting members of the coalition. “Our agenda is to salvage this country from Jubilee and not to compete on who will become governor, senator, MP or MCA,” said Dr Khalwale.
Earlier Friday, a truck transporting public address equipment and tents to be used during the rally was blocked from entering the Muliro Gardens. The driver of the truck said he was stopped by county government security officers from offloading the equipment from the truck after arriving at the Muliro Gardens.
No turning back
The governor’s office had issued a statement saying the ground would not be available for the rally, which is expected to be attended by opposition chiefs Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, Cord governors from the western region, senators and members of county assemblies.
The county government has instead suggested that the rally be held at the Muslim Primary School grounds, saying the Muliro Gardens, which was recently renovated and beautified, will be used only for recreation.
Mr Barasa Makokha, the Ford-Kenya national youth leader, on Friday declared that they would go ahead with preparations to hold the rally at the Muliro Gardens as earlier planned.
“Muliro Gardens is of historical significance to the Luhya nation and we are not prepared to move the launch to another venue,” said Mr Makokha.
The county executive in charge of land, Mr Alfred Matiany, said the county had provided an alternative venue for the event and would refund the Sh100,000 Ford-Kenya paid to book the Muliro Gardens.
Mr Makokha said his party would re-examine its partnership with ODM following the standoff, saying the outcome of the meeting in Kakamega would determine their future engagement with the Raila-led party in the coalition.
