Teargas moments during Ford Kenya Leader Sen. Moses Wetangula's Presidential launch at Muliro Gardens in Kakamega today. Leaders were forced to scupper for safety amid chocking from the irate air Also in attendance was Wiper Democratic Movement leader Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka. (PICTURE BY DENNIS KAVISU)

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s party will have to pay for damages that occurred at Muliro Gardens in Kakamega during his presidential launch.

A special committee formed by Kakamega County assembly to investigate last month’s chaotic incident approved the report that further seeks to bar political activities from the gardens.

The 13-member committee chaired by Majority Leader Robert Makhanu investigated the matter for 16 days and sought a 14-day extension to finalise their report.

“Ford Kenya should pay an additional Sh50,000 to the county revenue office pursuant to Kakamega County Revenue Administration and Collection Act 2014 to partly cover the damages occasioned that day,” said Mr Makhanu after a two-hour heated debate.

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Isukha Central MCA Richard Muchesia backed the committee.

“The convener of the meeting should be held responsible for destruction of property and violence that occurred,” he said.

“The county government had earlier indicated that the meeting should not be held at the gardens. The convener of the meeting ferried armed supporters from outside the county and should be held responsible for the chaos,” he added

However, the committee was accused of coming up with generalised recommendations despite spending about to Sh2 million in three weeks to conduct investigations.

Mahiakalo MCA Cleophas Malala claimed that in three days after the launch of investigations, committee members rushed to Kisumu to write the report and each member was paid Sh44,000 in allowances while the three secretariat members accompanying them got Sh30,000 each.

But in a quick rejoinder, Makhanu termed Malala’s comments as misplaced and aimed at tarnishing the reputation of probe team members.

“He (Malala) wanted to chair the special committee but when he was denied the chance, that was the genesis of all these allegations,” said Makhanu.

Speaker of the Assembly Maurice Buluma ordered Malala to table documents to support his allegations that Makhanu’s committee spent Sh5 million. He wondered why the committee investigated a matter that was pending in court.