Embakasi East UDA politician Francis Mureithi injured in Jacaranda Grounds chaos

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate in the upcoming Embakasi East election, Francis Mureithi, has been injured after chaos broke at the Jaracanda Grounds, Nairobi.

The grounds which were to play host to a rally by the deputy president after a church service in Roysambu saw two rival groups clash leading to Mureithi getting hit by a stone in the melee.

A woman was also injured in the chaos which forced police officers who had earlier marked the area and left to make their way back to disperse the rowdy crowds using teargas canisters.

According to ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, both events had been cancelled due to a double booking with Babu Owino confirming that the Azimio rally has been cancelled.

Mureithi is contesting for the second time against incumbent Babu Owino who is running on an Orange Democratic Movement ticket.

Kayole Sub-county police commander Paul Wambugu, however said the Kenya Kwanza rally was to go on as planned hence the reason for the heavy police presence.

“It is normal for police officers to be present in a meeting because of the crowds in attendance. There is only one meeting for Kenya Kwanza,” said Wambugu.

His sentiments were however contradicted by Embakasi sub county police commander Makau Masai who said the venue was going to host no political activity citing security reasons as different political groups were going to clash.

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"We have deployed officers to Jacaranda for security reasons. There will be no meeting of any kind on the grounds. We cannot allow the two political groups to meet here. The safety of our citizens comes first,” said Masai.

The deputy president however went on to hold the meeting, however no podium was set and he had to address attendees of the rally from the top of his car.