Msambweni by-election Independent Candidate Feisal Bader has suffered a blow after police blocked his meeting at Ukunda Show Grounds on Friday morning, October 9.
Reports alleged that a contingent of police officers barricaded roads leading to the venue. Deputy President William Ruto allies were expected to attend the meeting to discuss ways they would beat Raila Odinga’s ODM to the seat.
"Police mounted roadblocks and blocked Faisal Abdalla Bader former Senators; Johnson Muthama, Hassan Omar, Boni Khalwale, and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa from meeting at the venue," Soy MP and Jubilee Deputy Secretary-General Caleb Kositany tweeted.
Police were spotted patrolling the area in videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke.
Khalwale had vowed to lead campaigns for Feisal, as the DP’s camp tests waters in one of ODM’s stronghold.
ODM, however, played cagey with the by-elections and stated that Ruto will face off with Mombasa Governor and ODM’s Deputy Party Leader Hassan Joho rather than Odinga.
Joho will lead campaigns for ODMs Omar Boga who won the party’s nomination as Raila’s team sets out to reclaim the seat in the December 15 by-elections.
Jubilee Party declined to field a candidate owing to the handshake between Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, forcing DP Ruto to declare his support for Feisal.
The seat was declared vacant after MP Suleiman Dori succumbed to cancer in March 2020.
On Thursday, October 8, Cabinet formed The National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC), a security task force team to curb the rising political tension in the country. This was after clashes were witnessed ahead of Ruto’s event in Murang’a County.
Attempts by the DP to also hold a meeting in Nyamira County on Thursday, October 8, were thwarted by police who disrupted the event. NSAC will advise the government on how to act against incitement and unauthorised rallies.