A campaign team for the ODM Homa Bay senate seat candidate, Mr Moses Kajwang’, Thursday got a hostile reception at Oriang’ market as youths pelted the group with stones.
A confrontation ensued between two groups of youths, one of which had accompanied the campaigners, among them Deputy Minority Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo.
The youths on the campaign trail chased and caught two of their opposers, beat them up and seriously injured them.
Speaking later at Adiedo market, Mr Midiwo warned youths against attacking the ODM campaign team.
He said it would be disastrous to have violence during the election.
The MP recounted how last month, Mr Kajwang’s supporters were attacked at Olare market, leaving several of them injured.
“From today, we shall not allow any candidate to use goons to attack us,” said Mr Midiwo.
“We want to warn those out to provoke us by attacking our team that we will hit back,” he added.
Speaking at another rally, the leaders again claimed there was a plot to rig the by-election. Mr Midiwo and Nairobi County Assembly Ward Rep Eliud Otieno accused the Jubilee coalition of being behind the plot.
JUBILEE
They alleged Jubilee was keen to see ODM lose in Homa Bay to portray Cord co-principal Raila Odinga’s influence as waning.
Speaking in Karachuonyo, Mr Midiwo demanded to know why the government returned former Rachuonyo North Sub-County Commissioner William Lenaremo six months after he was transferred.
“The people of Rachuonyo South are aware of his close association with the area MP and the role he played in ensuring his re-election in 2013. If he has been brought back to engage in similar deals, he would be in for a rude shock,” said the MP.
Mr Midiwo hit out at candidates who defected from ODM, and rebel MPs James Rege (Karachuonyo) and George Oner (Rangwe).
He claimed those who had turned against Mr Odinga owe their current positions to him.
“Some MPs never won the party nominations and were only assisted by Mr Odinga,” he added. Mr Midiwo apologised to Karachuonyo politician Adipo Okuome who lost to Mr Rege for what befell him during the 2013 party nominations.
He took issue with Maendeleo Party’s Philip Okundi and Mr Fred Rabongo for turning against Mr Odinga.
“Okundi was appointed Communication Commission of Kenya chairman by Raila and so was Rabongo appointed the Managing Trustee of National Social Security Fund,” he said.
However, Maendeleo flagbearer Mr Okundi denied his party is linked to Jubilee.
Speaking at Nyatoto, Nyabera, Nyadenda and Magunga, Mr Okundi termed the claims pure propaganda.
