Police identify junior officer who tear-gassed Martha Karua's function in Gusii Stadium

Martha Karua was whisked out by a security officer after chaos erupts in Gusii Stadium. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

Police have identified the suspect behind the tear gas explosion that disrupted Martha Karua's speech at Gusii Stadium today.

Chaos disrupted Azimio la Umoja- One Kenya coalition running mate Martha Karua’s tour of Kisii County in the company of Ida Odinga after a tear gas canister exploded in the crowd.

The two were to attend the launch of the Kisii Gender-Based Violence Center.

In a statement, police spokesperson Bruno Shioso revealed that the person responsible for the tear gas canister explosion was a junior officer.

“The said officer is currently in custody assisting further investigation to unravel all circumstances surrounding the incident,” Shioso stated

In a video on Standard Digital Videos, a tear gas canister exploded a few meters from the podium, shortly before Martha made her address to the residents.

The canister exploded when Martha Karua was being invited to the stage by the outgoing Kisii County Governor James Ongwae.

Smoke is seen emanating from the crowd, just a few metres from where the leaders were seated.

The leaders were taken to safety by security officials.

The event was cut short; the stadium was also left littered with chairs seen scattered everywhere.

Clips making rounds on social media show scanty crowds leaving the stadium as some plastic chairs, and some broken ones were left scattered on the grounds.

Police officers attempting to restore normalcy were involved in a melee with rowdy youth who were throwing the plastic chairs at some police officers.

The chaos left some supporters injured, as first responders from the Kenya Red Cross moved in and did first aid to those injured in the scuffle.