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One injured as rival groups fight in attempt to kick out Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi
Anti-riot police had to intervene as rival groups clashed outside Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi's office on April 1, 2015. One group demanded that Mr Kingi steps aside over corruption allegations while the other was in his support. PHOTO | SAMUEL KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- A group carrying placards and a coffin demanding that the governor steps aside stormed the compound early morning and attempted to lock the entrance to the offices
- They wanted to block the governor who was said to be in Nairobi, from accessing his office.
- However, another group who were in support of the governor marched to the entrance of Mr Kingi’s office claiming that the governor was being fought politically.
- Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) Ms Filesi Kilifi said that it was prudent for the governor to step aside and allow investigations to be conducted.
One person was injured Wednesday morning when two groups of about 400 people clashed outside the office of Kilifi County Governor Amason Kingi.
Trouble started when a group carrying placards and a coffin demanding that the governor steps aside stormed the compound early morning and attempted to lock the entrance to the offices.
They wanted to block the governor who was said to be in Nairobi, from accessing his office.
They insisted that Mr Kingi immediately steps down to allow for investigations after he was mentioned in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) report tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The governor is said to have irregularly bought the governor’s residence for Sh140 million.
On Tuesday, Mr Kingi dismissed the allegations as political saying he was ready to go to court to defend himself.
Rival groups meet outside the Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi's as pressure mounted for him to step aside over graft allegations. PHOTO | SAMUEL KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
IN SUPPORT OF KINGI
However, another group who were in support of the governor, also carrying placards marched to the entrance of Mr Kingi’s office claiming that the governor was being fought politically.
“We shall stand by our governor. He is being crucified by certain people. He has been in the frontline in fighting for our grabbed land. We will not allow blackmail on our governor,” said Mr Baraka Thoya the chairman of Nayeni Mbuyuni squatters.
At about 10am the group opposing the governor’s stay in office converged at Kibaoni stage opposite Pwani University from where they started to march along Charo Mae road to the governor’s office.
They carried a coffin which they said was meant to symbolically bury the governor for his alleged failure to bring development in the county.
They crossed the streets of Kilifi bringing business to a standstill.
However, as they reached Kilifi Police Station, the pro-Kingi group encountered their rivals and the two groups clashed leaving a protester opposed to the governor injured.
He was taken to Kilifi County hospital where he was treated and discharged.
During the clash, the group in support of the governor overpowered the one opposing the governor.
They then took away the coffin and destroyed it at the football pitch.
At one time, police had to be called in as the protest quickly degenerated into a fierce battle between the groups.
The opposing group had to run away leaving behind the destroyed coffin.
A group carrying a mock coffin was overpowered by the one in support of Governor Kingi. PHOTO | SAMUEL KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
OUTSIDERS BROUGHT TO KILIFI
Addressing journalists later, one of the protesters who was in support of the governor Mr Fred Wafula said that it was unfortunate that some outsiders were being used to undermine the Kilifi governor.
“We have faith in our governor. Allegations are not crimes. If there are corruption allegations about the governor, that should be left to the legal entities to do their work. We will not allow people with their own interests to come and destroy the peace in this town,” said Mr Wafula.
There was report that the group that was opposing the governor’s stay in office had been ferried from Mtwapa and Malindi.
“We know that these people have been ferried from outside Kilifi Town to come and undermine our governor.
“We know what the governor has done for this county,” said Caleb Otieno, youth council member for Sokoni Ward.
However, speaking to reporters, the vice chairperson of the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) Ms Filesi Kilifi said that it was prudent for the governor to step aside and allow investigations to be conducted.
“I think the governor needs to step aside to allow for investigations because Kilifi is on the verge of collapsing economically.
"Corruption allegations in this county are rampant and the governor must step aside.
"It is not that we are opposing him but what we are saying is that he needs to give way for investigations,” said Ms Kilifi.
A contingent of anti-riot police had to intervene to put an end to the demonstrations outside Kilifi Police Station. PHOTO | SAMUEL KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
FUNDS MISUSED
She said that instead of money going to assist the people of this county in terms of projects implementation, the cash ends in the pockets of some people which was not right.
MYWO Kilifi County secretary Ms Claris Mwangata said that misunderstanding between the governor, his deputy and the Kilifi County Members of Parliament was an indication that development will remain a pipe dream.
“We have seen that the governor is not in good terms with the legislators from this county. This divided scenario is not good for any person in this county.
"That is why we were here to close the office because once he is out, then we can start to deliberate on how we can revive our image which is currently in bad shape,” she said.
The governor has insisted that there were legal bodies charged with conducting investigations into corruption cases.
He said that if the people of Kilifi will continue to use demonstrations as an avenue of expressing their feelings, then there was a danger of throwing the county to the dogs.
