Man who hit Raila Odinga in Kwale arrested

Security aides escort an elderly man out of an Okoa Kenya rally in Kinango market in Kwale County on September 29, 2014. The man had attacked Raila Odinga and Governor Salim Mvurya. PHOTO | FAROUK MWABEGE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A 40-year-old man who hit former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with a stick during a rally in Kinango, Kwale County, on Monday has been arrested.

Kinango Deputy County Commissioner Moses Ivuto said Mr Lengo Mdzombo, who works as a labourer at a farm in Kwale, was arrested on Tuesday morning and would appear in court in the afternoon.

Mr Mdzombo had on Monday struck Mr Odinga and Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya with a cane as the two leaders joined a local group for a traditional dance known as sengenya.

The man emerged suddenly and started caning the two leaders before their bodyguards pounced on him.

He was, however, let go after Mr Mvurya said it was not the man's fault as "he (didn't) seem to be mentally OK".

The man reportedly fled from the scene as soon as the bodyguards set him free.