Chaos erupted in Narok town on Monday, November 24, after Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua was teargassed by police officers attempting to interrupt his campaigns.
Earlier on Monday, reports emerged that there was a heavy police presence and a roadblock had been mounted to stop Gachagua from making his way into Narok town.
However, Gachagua, armed with a helmet, somehow managed to make his way into the town, and barely five minutes into his speech, the police opened fire, sending teargas to disperse the crowds.
In the middle of addressing residents, who were chanting anti-government slogans, a teargas canister was thrown in the direction of Gachagua's convoy, forcing the former Deputy President and his convoy to scamper for safety.
Gachagua sought to make the best of the last day of campaigns before the November 27 by-elections as he took his convoy to Narok to throw his weight behind MCA aspirant Douglas Masikonde.
Notably, Gachagua appeared to have caught wind of the heavy police presence as he went into the campaign trail, complete with a black helmet for protection.
No injuries were reported amid the chaos, with the youth present at the scene appearing ready to take on anti-riot police in a bid to listen to Gachagua.
In the wake of the fracas, Gachagua issued a lengthy statement alleging the heavy police presence in Narok Town was by design to deliberately frustrate his campaign efforts.
"Clear instructions had been issued by this cowardly and brutal regime to block me and my entourage from accessing Narok Town to campaign for the DCP Candidate for Narok Ward Hon. Douglas Masikonde," Gachagua alleged.
"The people, a people united, are stronger than all roadblocks, than all bullets, than all stones, than all teargas you have in store and high seas and than any dictator in the world. No amount of blood money, police brutality or police excessive force will cow or intimidate the people of the Republic of Kenya."
The Narok Town Ward race is set to be a political battle between the ruling United Democratic Alliance, whose candidate is Robert Kanyinge Ole Kudate and Gachagua's DCP party.
Besides Narok Town, UDA and opposition are also battling for votes in other volatile regions, including Mbeere North, where the parliamentary race has been tipped to go to the wire.
