Nakuru Governor denies spearheading hate campaign against Raila

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua

Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has denied spearheading any hate campaign against CORD leader Raila Odinga and his supporters in Nakuru County.

He defended his decision to ban anti-IEBC protests in the region claiming such demonstration might ignite ethnic tensions among residents ahead of the next General Election.

"Nakuru has in the past suffered due to political competition. We have, however, resolved as a county to make peace with ourselves. Anti-IEBC protests will not be allowed in Nakuru because the issue CORD has is with the IEBC commissioners and they do not sit in Nakuru," Mr Mbugua said yesterday in a statement.

Speaking only a few days after a group of youths attempted to stop Raila's meeting in the county, the governor said the former prime minister was welcomed in the county as long as he does not hold what he described as "tribal meetings".

ODM MPs led by Suna East legislator Junet Mohamed have accused the governor of being behind hate campaign against Raila and party supporters in the county.

Yesterday, Mbugua explained he was against leaders hosting tribal meetings in the county that was trying to heal from the effects of the 2007 post-election violence.

"Let CORD and it's leadership hear, memorise and internalise this fact: No one will be allowed to interfere with our longstanding cohesion," he said.

The governor said any leader was free to hold a meeting in the county but he would not allow anyone to meet with only one community.