Rowdy youth block Raila, Kalonzo from entering Meru town for a NASA rally

Youth opposing the National Super Alliance (NASA) have this afternoon blocked Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka entry and subsequently addressing a rally at a scheduled venue.

The ugly turnaround comes barely a week after the former Prime Minister was forced to change his itinerary after rowdy youth heckled Raila on his tour in Turkana East, a month after his campaign was disrupted in perceived stronghold Changamwe Mombasa.

The rowdy youth used rocks to block the entry of Raila and his Wiper Party counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka in Meru town main stage, forcing the two leaders to keep off.

In the recent past, political campaigns have been marred by Hooliganism and intolerance, between two leading coalitions, Jubilee and NASA, jostling up for support in the august 8th polls.

DP Ruto

Earlier in January, deputy president William Ruto was forced to change his route in Bungoma County after a group of rowdy youth.

In a span of two days, Ruto encountered pro Jubilee supporters affiliated to Wetangula led Ford Kenya from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia Counties. The residents rubbished his drive to have them register as voters during the recently concluded mass voter registration, citing negligence from the Jubilee administration.

Earlier this year, DP Ruto faced yet another rowdy crowd in Sogoo Secondary School in Narok South. The residents were demanding to see the projects the government of the day had done in the governor Samuel Ole Tunai-led County. Ruto was on a mission to urge the residents to register as voters. Narok is deemed an opposition’s stronghold.

NASA popularity

NASA Coalition leaders, Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetangula (Ford Kenya) and Musalia Mudavadi (Amani) have invaded Mt. Kenya region for a three-day tour to search for votes, and also popularise the coalition launched last week.

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This marks the second time Raila is on a kission to hunt fot votes in meru after the warm reception in Makutano, Kianjai, Muriri, Maili Tatu and Laare towns late last month to mobilse redients take part in the mass voter registration exercise.

The leaders have been touring areas perceived to be Jubilee strongholds to marshal support ahead of the poll. They started their onslaught in Eldoret on Saturday following the official signing of their agreement.

In the 2013 general election, Odinga’s ODM party clinched two seats in the region, Igembe Central and Tigania East parliamentary seats. Interestingly, all the elected MPs have since decamped to Jubilee. MPs Kubai Kiringo and Mpuru Aburi have since decamped to Jubilee Party.

In the recent past, Raila Odinga has branded himself as a friend of Meru people by targeting miraa farmers whose fortunes have plunged following a ban on the export of the commodity.