Senator Kihika’s Violence Plan Claim Dismissed

By Clinton Ochieng

In a letter to the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, Senator Susan Kihika alleged that the ruling party Jubilee intended to use the police to block supporters of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates from casting their ballots in the London and Hell’s Gate Ward by-elections tomorrow.

“In an elaborate plan, Nakuru West OCPD Samson Gathuku has been instructed to threaten, blockade, and curtail the movement of UDA supporters on the voting day,” Kihika wrote.

But in a quick response, Mr. Gathuku, the sub-county Police Commander denied the allegations saying that the police were a neutral party in the exercise and will give equal protection to all voters.

Gathuku challenged Senator Kihika to produce evidence of the allegations and move to court adding that the police are not above the law.   

Jubilee Party is keen on retaining the two seats after losing the Lake View ward by-election to a little-known party, The New Democrats, last year while United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which is allied to Deputy President William Ruto, is using this contest as a testing ground ahead of the 2022 elections.

London and Hell’s Gate seats fell vacant following the deaths of Simon Mbugua and John Njuguna. In London ward, it is a two-horse race between UDA’s Antony Nzuki and Francis Njoroge of Jubilee.

Other candidates in the race are Kimani wa Kimani (Kanu), Felix Kipruto of the People’s Party of Kenya, and The Service Party’s Joseph Kariuki.

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