Police cancel UDA, Jubilee campaigns in Kiambu

Police said the two events cannot be held in the same venue citing insecurity fears. [Emmanuel Too, Standard]

Police in Kiambu County have cancelled United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Jubilee campaign events in Karuri Primary School saying the two parties had booked the same venue.

This comes at a time when campaigns of the hotly-contested Kiambaa Constituency and Muguga Ward by-elections enter the final stretch.

The two mini polls in Kiambu County are scheduled for Thursday, July 15.

On Sunday morning, Kiambu County Commander Ali Nuno said the police had come to an agreement the two rival events cannot take place in one venue, for fear of insecurity.

"We only knew of one event here, but this morning we received another letter. I want to condemn the administration of Karuri Primary School for allowing two events to take place," Ali Nuno said.

"Both parties have letters, but we cannot allow this to go on. We will find out why the two letters were issued," Peter Maina, Kiambu Deputy Commander told KTN News.

The police maintained there will be no gathering in any part of Karuri ward on Sunday and asked both party officials and supporters to go home.

Confused supporters of the two parties who had prepared to attend the two parties’ campaign events were left stranded outside the school’s gate after police froze all the scheduled activities.

The Standard is in possession of a video of rowdy youth dressed in various party’s regalia after the cancellation, chanting ‘baba’ as police are seen keeping off the disappointed fanatics. 

President Uhuru’s Jubilee party and his deputy William Ruto allied UDA are set to lock horns once again in the upcoming by-elections.

The two mini-polls are viewed as a supremacy battle between the political allies-turned-foes and will have a bearing on 2022 succession politics in the Mt Kenya region.

The ruling Jubilee Party has fielded Kariri Njama for the Kiambaa race while Githinji Mung'ara is vying to represent Muguga under its ticket.

John Njuguna Wanjiku will fly UDA’s flag in Kiambu's Kiambaa constituency, while Kamau Thumbi will face off with others in Muguga under the party’s ticket.