Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s tour of Moyale, Marsabit County, was briefly interrupted after violence between internal camps in the coalition broke out – with some youth throwing stones at the VIP dais.
Police were forced to intervene and disperse the crowd on Thursday, June 23, as some supporters of Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali and those affiliated with Treasury CS Ukur Yattani clashed.
The clash happened when most VIPs had settled on the dais although Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua had not arrived.
Presidential aspirant Raila Odinga leads Azimio leaders in Moyale, Marsabit County, June 23, 2022.
Courtesy Raila Odinga The rival groups threw stones at the dais – forcing the bodyguards of both Yattani and Ali to form a ring to shield them from harm.
When Raila and Karua arrived at the event the crowd had not yet calmed down but normalcy was restored shortly after.
Similar supremacy battles between Azimio la Umoja One coalition candidates were witnessed in Isiolo, threatening to hurt its fortunes in the August 9 General Election.
The differences among the candidates played out on Tuesday, June 21, when Azimio’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga visited the county to sell his manifesto.
Due to the fighting, leaders in the area suggested that Raila should hold three individual rallies to accommodate all rival groups.
Raila was accompanied by Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli, Jubilee vice-chair David Murathe, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and his Ugunja counterpart James Opiyo.
Senator Abshiro Halakhe struggled to calm down the rowdy youth after the gathering observed a moment of silence for the 11 people killed in bandit attacks.
Azimio One Kenya flagbearer Raila Odinga addresses a crowd in Butula, Vihiga County on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Raila Odinga “Let us remain calm. I was to recognise the outgoing Isiolo North MP Hassan Odha for doing what he could have managed but large horsepower like the one in me is needed,” she stated.
Junet took over and tried to calm the crowd. He also appealed to them in their local language but this did not contain the rogue youth.
violence arrest killed fight
