Deputy a pain in the Mayor's neck

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Councillors attack Nakuru mayor Mohamed Suraw (seated) during an abortive election for various house committee chairmen on Tuesday. Photo/SULEIMAN MBATIAH  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By SIMON SIELE ssiele@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, August 22  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Mohammed Suraw claims that his life was in danger after the chaos that erupted during the failed council elections
• He appealed to Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere to ensure that six of his civic colleagues were arrested for assaulting him

Embattled Nakuru mayor on Wednesday pointed an accusing finger at his deputy and two former mayors, claiming they were part of political schemes to remove him from office. Read (Nakuru Town Mayor and DC in exchange of words)

Mr Mohammed Suraw also claimed that his life was in danger after the chaos that erupted during the failed council elections.

On Wednesday, he appealed to Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere to ensure that six of his civic colleagues were arrested for assaulting him.

Mr Suraw said he had received death threats from a rival camp seeking to oust him after the Tuesday fracas triggered by a court order obtained by three councillors allied to ODM.

The mayor said he recorded a statement with police “but today, no action has been taken against the culprits out to make sure I am ousted simply because I come from a minority community.”

Mr Suraw further claimed that a political machination by his opponents was motivated by a recent case in which one of the councillors was arrested after he was implicated in vandalising the council’s street lighting.

“If people want to kill me because of my fight against impunity, then the relevant authorities should investigate this case because my only determination is to protect public property from being looted,” added the Rhoda Ward councillor.

For the second day running, the Town Hall was under police surveillance with the public barred from accessing the premises.

Mr Suraw was engaged in a brawl with deputy mayor Damaris Mbuthia, who wanted the elections of various house committees conducted after their August 15 term elapsed.

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The two factions of councillors allied to ODM and TNA went for each other’s necks when Town Clerk Wilson Maroa announced that there was a court order restraining him from conducting the long-awaited polls at the chambers.  

The mayor was roughed up as he tried to go for Ms Mbuthia during which his coat was torn to pieces before police intervened.

Furniture was broken as well as other assets. We could not reach Ms Mbuthia for comment.

Police officer Bernard Kioko led a contingent of officers in riot gear in cordoning off Town Hall. 

The deputy mayor’s faction accused Mr Suraw of interfering with the proposed polls by shifting dates to “maintain a status quo” of the current committee leadership.  

The council has previously witnessed chaotic elections normally based on ethnic balance, resource allocation and political manipulation.