Rivals clash in the Rift over push for referendum

Deputy Governor Dominic Biwott when he visited county chief of staff Simon Kosgey at Kapsabet Referral Hospital after he was injured when rival groups in the referendum push clashed on September 22, 2014. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |

What you need to know:

  • Chaos broke out soon after a URP meeting resolved to have Dr Lagat impeached unless he changed his stand on the referendum.
  • Several people, including former Kapsabet mayor David Ng’etich, were arrested after the groups clashed in Kapsabet Town.

A number of demonstrators were injured on Monday in Nandi County when two rival groups clashed over the push for a national referendum to allocate more funds to the devolved units.

Several people, including former Kapsabet mayor David Ng’etich, were arrested after the groups clashed in Kapsabet Town, leaving several people injured, among them Nandi County chief of staff Simon Kosgey.

Mr Kosgey was caught in the melee between those against governor Cleophas Lagat’s support for the Pesa Mashinani drive and leaders opposed to the vote.

He sustained head injuries and was taken to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital where other victims were treated and discharged.

He was later flown to Nairobi for specialised treatment.

INPEACHMENT THREAT

Chaos broke out soon after a United Republican Party meeting, attended by Nandi Senator Stephen Sang, five area MPs and party officials, resolved to have Dr Lagat impeached unless he changed his stand on the referendum.

Police were deployed in the town and on the Kapsabet-Eldoret Highway after hundreds of demonstrators barricaded the road in the standoff.

Deputy Governor Dominic Biwott and other county executives visited the injured in hospital where they condemned the clashes.

Tension remained high after Senator Sang, MPs Zipporah Kering (Nandi women representative), Kirwa Bitok (Mosop), Cornelius Serem (Aldai) and Elijah Lagat (Chesumei), several former councillors and county assembly members criss-crossed the town in a convoy of vehicles, denouncing the Pesa Mashinani call by the governor.

They gave Dr Lagat an ultimatum — change his stand or face impeachment and rejection from the URP party.

Earlier in the day, Mr Sang, the MPs and URP party officials passed what they called the Kapsabet Declaration, in which they asked Governor Lagat to join them and quit the company of URP county bosses who had rebelled against the Jubilee government on the Pesa Mashinani initiative.

WARNING

The URP meeting, which was chaired by the county’s party chairman, Mr Sammy Choge, warned all elected leaders in Nandi, including MCAs and MPs supporting the governor to denounce their stand or face the wrath of the URP party.

They said the Nandi community would not betray its leader — Deputy President William Ruto.

“The Nandi governor will only have himself to blame if he doesn’t change his stand and speak with the voice of our party leaders.”

“Those MCAs around him will also face stern action because Nandi wants to remain in the Jubilee government which they voted for,” said Mr Choge.

URP has, in the past two weeks, held several meetings where they invited Dr Lagat, but he did not attend the forums.

“It’s now official that Nandi County is not supporting the governor on the Pesa Mashinani issue because he did not consult elected leaders from the region,” said Mr Sang.

He added: “He will be ousted if he continues going against Deputy President Ruto’s stand.”

MCAs allied to Dr Lagat, including Mr Joseph Too (Chepterit ward), were ejected from the meeting because of their support for the county boss.