Azimio la Umoja- One Kenya flag-bearer Raila Odinga’s tour in Machakos County was marred by political feud between gubernatorial candidates Nzioka Waita and Wavinya Ndeti.
Raila was scheduled to have a meeting at the Machakos Golf Club with religious leaders from across the county but chaos erupted even before the event could started.
Supporters from Wavinya’s camp blocked Waita from joining the meeting on grounds that he was not invited. The former State House Chief of Staff however managed to join the meeting after calm was restored.
During the meeting Raila assured that candidates in Azimio constituent parties will be treated equally saying it is the people who will decide.
“Azimio has 26 constituent parties. We cannot appear to be partisan. Today have attended an event where Wavinya is being blessed but also, we have Nzioka Waita who is a candidate. We don’t want to condemn Waita because ultimately it is the people who will decide,” Raila stated
“I was told that we were going to have a meeting with clergy before we go for the rally I didn’t know that it was going to be a prayer session for a candidate for the governorship of Machakos County,”
After being assaulted by Wiper goons in Church & then again at Kenyatta Stadium , team #WaitaNaSuluhu prevailed in a big big way ! Thank you Baba @RailaOdinga for locking Machakos for #AzimioLaUmoja pic.twitter.com/Z6lRqDMyfz
— Nzioka Waita, MGH (@NziokaWaita) July 29, 2022
Wavinya is the candidate for Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party while Waita is running under Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) party, both under the Azimio-One Kenya coalition party.
“We condemn in the highest terms possible, the unseemly events earlier today where wiper goons disrupted a prayer meeting organized by Wiper at Machakos Golf Club. As all were aware, this is a day Raila Amollo Odinga was on a tour of Machakos,” Waita’s Spokesperson Caleb Mwamisi said in a statement
“Our candidate accompanied Baba from Nairobi to Machakos by Road and to the Golf Course. There was no problem at all attending the prayer event. As he ascended the podium, hired goons attempted to prevent us, but he managed to get there and stay on despite further efforts to remove him. We stand for peace and we deeply respect the clergy in this country,” he added
