Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua found himself between a rock and a hard place after residents of Mavoko stoned his motorcade as he campaigned in the area over the weekend.
Mutua, who was campaigning for his Maendeleo Chap Chap Party, ended his political rally after a hostile reception by residents at Mavoko Stadium in Athi River town.
Attempts by the governor to get the crowd to chant his Maendeleo Chap Chap slogans were met with boos and counter chants for NASA and Wiper.
The residents were evidently not satisfied with the governor’s performance claiming he had neglected them ever since he won the governorship in 2013. They added that he had not improved their lives despite paying taxes.
“There is no way we can be duped to vote for Mutua again. He sidelined Mavoko immediately we voted him as governor in 2013. Why is he reaching out to us for votes now?” a resident lamented.
The residents did not want to be addressed by the governor, as sand dealers at the Gateway Mall tried to stone his motorcade which had made a stopover in the area. Similar hostile scenes were witnessed at KAPA and in Mlolongo forcing the Governor's convoy to speed off without addressing them in an effort to save face.
Mutua blamed his Wiper opponents for inciting the public against him singling out Governor aspirant Wavinya Ndeti and Mavoko MP Partick Makau as the main aggressors.
Nonetheless, the Governor urged residents to re-elect him on his development record which he said had surpassed the performance of other county bosses in the country.
The incident happened barely three hours after a peace walk in the constituency where the Athi River Deputy County Commissioner, Geoffrey Omoding had warned politicians to avoid inciting locals against their opponents.
