Showdown ahead of Wetang’ula’s rally today

Kakamega County Senator Boni Khalwale confronts a police officer at Muliro Gardens in Kakamega yesterday. Police had barred organisers of the launch of Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula’s presidential bid from accessing the venue. [PHOTO: BENJAMIN SAKWA/STANDARD]

Senator Moses Wetang’ula will launch his presidential bid today at the Muliro Gardens in Kakamega.

Security personnel from Kakamega County had blocked the venue yesterday trigerring a 10-hour standoff with event organisers.

“What you are witnessing is pure drama, we paid for the field and we are going to use it as agreed. There is no negotiation over it, nothing is going to stop us,” Wetang’ula said yesterday.

A lorry carrying tents and chairs was yesterday blocked from accessing the Muliro Gardens, venue of today’s launch of Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s presidential bid. The lorry and a pick-up truck carrying a power generator remained outside the gate from 5am to 2pm when Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale arrived with a chanting crowd and forced guards to open the gates.

Tension was building in the town, after Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya announced that Wetangula’s meeting will be turned into a CORD rally and not the launch of his intention to vie for the top seat on the coalition’s ticket.

“Having discussed the matter with ODM party leader (Raila Odinga), we have agreed to go ahead with the meeting, but not as a Ford Kenya function,” said Oparanya.

Last week, Wetang’ula’s supporters dismissed an Infotrack opinion that ranked him and Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi as non-starters as an ODM ploy to discredit leaders from the Western region. Yesterday, Wetang’ula said Ford Kenya had paid Sh100,000 to use the garden.

“What you are witnessing is pure drama. We paid for field and we are going to use it as agreed. There is no negotiations over it, and nothing is going to stop us; what is taking place is just a small misunderstanding between brothers in the same house and it will be solved,” said the Senate Minority Leader at his Bungoma home yesterday.

Recreation facility

CORD leader Raila Odinga and co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka are among those expected.

Earlier in the day, Ford Kenya supporters had been blocked from accessing the historic Muliro Gardens to erect a podium and put final touches at the venue of the rally.

The County Government Executive member in charge of Lands, Urban Planning and Housing Alfred Matianyi had banned meetings at the venue, arguing that it was a recreation facility. “Kakamega County Government passed a Bill on Muliro Gardens, which stated the area will be used as a recreation facility months ago. No organisations like churches or even the county government is allowed to hold any function at the venue,’’ said Matianyi.

By noon yesterday, tension was building in town as Ford Kenya supporters remained adamant that they would push to have the meeting at the park. However, police kept vigil to avert any clash between feuding supporters of the CORD parties.

“The meeting is still on at Muliro Gardens as our permit states so. We shall not be intimidated by Governor Oparanya’s theatrics this last minute,” said Abel Mutimba, Ford Kenya Kakamega county chairman.

Oparanya has vehemently opposed Wetang’ula’s push to launch his bid in Kakamega, saying CORD has a sole presidential flag bearer, Raila Odinga.

The park became a no-go zone for people who usually relax on the lawns at 2pm, when Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale arrived with his rowdy crowd. He ordered the guards manning the two gates to open and the loaded lorry and truck to access the garden.

Later, Khalwale led the crowd in the streets of Kakamega town, singing songs in praise of the Bungoma Senator.

He said Wetang’ula’s presidential launch was legal because they had a police permit. “This presidential launch tomorrow is on. We have paid and our permit for Muliro Gardens and not Muslim Primary School. The police officers you see here had come to ensure security. There is no need for alarm,’’ said Khalwale.

Kakamega County Commissioner Kang’ethe Thuku said that they have put security measures in place to deal with any violation of the law.

“We will not allow any person to disrupt peace in the town. We are aware some people want to cause chaos during the meeting. Let them be warned that we will swiftly handle them on spot,” said Mr Thuku.