Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president, Nelson Havi, and his bodyguard were attacked on Friday, June 18, during his campaigns in Westlands.
Havi stated that his bodyguard sustained injuries after he was assaulted by goons he accused of being hired by his political competitors.
The lawyer claimed that trouble started when he reached Gichagi, an informal settlement in Westlands constituency, where he was accosted by goons wearing branded Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) overalls. The group attempted to block the road as Havi was making his way mingling with locals.
Havi claimed that the goons were hired by the incumbent Member of Parliament, Timothy Wanyonyi Wetangula, who is seeking a third term.
"The goons call for reinforcement of about 10 more young men in Tim Wanyonyi’s t-shirts. They block the road with motorcycles and an ODM banner bearing the portraits and campaign messages of Raila Odinga and Tim Wanyonyi," alleged Havi.
Although local traders and residents intervened when the rogue group started harassing Havi, they did not manage to calm the rowdy youth.
"Tim Wanyonyi’s goons zero on me but my bodyguard on the right sustains the cover. It is after this point that they target him (bodyguard) with blows and kicks on the shoulder and the neck," stated Havi.
"The assault on my bodyguard by Tim Wanyonyi’s goons is sustained. They eventually dislodge him from my midst. He sustained serious stone cut injuries on the right neck and eyes with blinding blows before Police came in."
The bodyguard sustained cuts and suffered bleeding from his neck.
Havi reported the matter to police and his bodyguard was taken to a nearby hospital for first aid and treatment.
"At MP Shah Hospital for treatment of my bodyguard who was injured at about 4.30pm by goons hired by Tim Wanyonyi to disrupt our interaction with residents of Mountain View Ward, Westlands constituency. There is video evidence of the perpetrators, led by Edward Mahugi Ebura," he stated.
Incidents such as these have been witnessed in the past when the country nears an election. With only 51 days left to the August 9 polls, Kenyans have been cautioned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to maintain peace and exercise restraint while interacting with politicians.
At the same time, political leaders have been warned against using young people to cause violence and disrupt the peace in the country.
Notably, NCIC ranked Nairobi among the counties that are prone to violence, with possibility of suffering elections-related violence being very high.
