Three injured as 'Yes' rival groups clash

By Robert Wanyonyi

Three people were injured as running battles erupted ahead of a ‘Yes’ rally in Sirisia constituency.

Supporters allied to Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula clashed with those of Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, before the rally at Chwele market that was to be addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. However, the skirmishes prompted Uhuru to skip the event. Mr Wamalwa, Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa, former minister Mukhisa Kituyi and political activist Tony Gachoka later addressed the rally on Saturday.

The group supporting the minister demanded cancellation of the rally on grounds their MP was in Kampala, Uganda on official assignment.

"You can’t hold a rally here when the owner of the house is away! I think you will have to wait for him," said an activist loyal to the minister.

More trouble followed after a helicopter carrying the MPs attempted to land, but failed on three occasions after the hostile crowd pelted it with stones. Fighting between the two groups intensified as the defiant leaders arrived. The group reportedly supporting Mr Wetang’ula was overpowered and repulsed and the rally finally took off.

Dr Kituyi accused planners of the chaos of secretly campaigning for the ‘No’ team and trying to frustrate the passage of a new constitution.

"I want to challenge those behind what we have witnessed here today to state which side of the referendum campaigns they support because they are yet to hold a single ‘Yes’ rally here in Sirisia," he said.

Wamalwa wondered how supporters of one side of the referendum campaigns could clash yet they hold similar views over the Proposed Constitution.

"The days of political zoning are over and all those who are out to remind us of those days must be told they are yet to come to terms with a modern world," he said.

Dr Wekesa said: "If someone thinks the referendum campaigns will give them an opportunity to harm their neighbour, it will not happen this time as we are ready as a Government."