Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali had a rough encounter with the police deployed to man Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega ahead of the Kenya Kwanza rally this morning.
In a video making the rounds on social media, police are seen dragging Washiali while kicking him as a man in his company tries to help him out of the hands of the police.
Washiali told Nation that he had visited the stadium to check the progress of preparations ahead of the rally.
“As we tried to gain entry into the stadium, the county enforcement officials blocked us and called in police officers, claiming we had damaged one of the gates,” he said.
The incident followed a move by the County Government of Kakamega ordering the Kenya Kwanza team to first pay Sh900,000 for the venue before being allowed into the stadium.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala had earlier insisted that the rally would proceed as planned.
“The county officials demanded that we should raise Sh900,000 before we can hold the rally at Bukhungu stadium. When we went back to pay the money, they told us to deposit the amount in the bank, and that was well after the banks had closed their operations,” said Mr Malala.
Mr. Washiali said the police were demanding to arrest him but failed after a man who was with him intervened.
“They said they would look for me in my house. This is a clear move by the government to try and frustrate the Kenya Kwanza campaigns as we head to the elections,” said Mr. Washiali.
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