Two supporters were on Sunday, June 5, run over by a vehicle which was part of Borabu MP Ben Momanyi’s campaign trail during a rally in Nyaramba, Nyamira county.
In a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the Land Cruiser vehicle ran over the two supporters who were on a motorcycle adjacent to the car in which the Momanyi was addressing the crowd from.
The rider and the pillion passenger who had a crutch held in his hand were tossed in the air before landing on the murram road by the speeding vehicle.
However, the MP was oblivious of what was happening just a few metres away from him and continued with his campaign speech until a section of the crowd began screaming in disbelief.
“We should ensure that the old men go home. Somebody help them, I will have a look at them in a short while. Ask the doctor to come and assess our brother here,” Momanyi stated.
The vehicle then reversed to allow the man to be freed from the underside. With the help of the security detail, the supporters were moved to safety – with the pillion passenger limping while holding his back.
Momanyi then rebuked the driver and asked him to slow down. A police officer controlled the crowd who had begun baying for the driver’s blood.
The accident sparked debate on social media, with Kenyans poking holes into the safety of Kenyans who attend political rallies and whether candidates really cared about the welfare of their supporters. Others attributed the accident to mechanical failure.
“Clearly many people have been injured yet he continued to campaign, surely!” George Tenega said. “The braking system is to blame, though the driver should give his side of the story,” Philip Ouma opined.
The incident comes barely after a month after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s vehicle knocked down several supporters after the crowd attending Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s rally in Mkomani turned hostile toward him.
Police officers in the event were forced to shoot in the air to disperse the crowd which was agitated by Sonko’s presence at the event. This happened against the backdrop of protests from leaders in the region opposed to his candidature.
Kenyans.co.ke tried to reach out to MP for a comment but at the time of publication, got no response from the lawmaker.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati (left) and Azimio One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga at the Bomas of Kenya on Sunday, June 5, 2022.
IEBC accident
