Youths disrupt Governor Ongwae rally in Kisii
Rowdy youths burn ODM T-shirts at Kenyenya in Bomachoge Borabu constituency, Kisii County, on February 8, 2017. PHOTO | BENSON MOMANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In a rare show of defiance and disappointment with Mr Ongwae’s administration, residents heckled and booed at speakers at some of the venues the caravan visited.
- Mr Ongwae expressed confidence in the party’s chances of winning in the upcoming elections, saying the campaign season was yet to formally kick off.
Kisii County Governor James Ongwae was on Wednesday forced to cut short his address to Ekona residents after rowdy youths demanding services disrupted it.
Mr Ongwae’s attempts to calm the furious residents fell on deaf ears as the crowd chanted slogans ridiculing him and demanded that streetlights be installed at the urban centre.
The governor was forced to hand over the microphone to a different speaker.
“I have heard your concerns and will ensure the lights are fixed tomorrow," said the governor amid murmurs from the crowd.
The Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) county branch leadership has been traversing the county urging eligible voters to register.
In a rare show of defiance and disappointment with Mr Ongwae’s administration, residents heckled and booed at speakers at some of the venues the caravan visited.
For instance, the entourage ran into another hostile group of youths at Kenyenya in Bomachoge Borabu constituency.
Youths chanting slogans supporting the Jubilee gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Chris Obure, stormed the venue burning ODM T-shirts.
'PAID' TROUBLEMAKERS
A security officer, Peter Osugo, confronted one of the youths and in return the young man hurled a burning T-shirt at him.
Mr Osugo suffered burn injuries on his head and was rushed to Galaxy Hospital in Kisii Town.
At Eberege, rowdy youths threw stones at the caravan’s vehicles as it departed from the area.
A pickup truck ODM supporters overturned about 200 metres from the trading centre after it came under attack by unknown people.
Three youths were slightly injured in the incident.
Governor Ongwae dismissed the incidents as the work of rowdy youth who were paid by rival aspirants to create trouble.
“Overall, we can say that most of the venues were receptive to us,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the party’s chances of winning in the upcoming elections, saying the campaign season was yet to formally kick off.
“The campaign period is yet to commence, and we shall cross the bridge when we get there. Our party is still the dominant political force in Kisii,” he said.
