The launch of Ford Kenya Moses Wetang’ula’s presidential bid in Kakamega has started on a wrong footing after ODM and Ford Kenya supporters clashed.
Anti-riot police have been deployed at the historical Masinde Muliro gardens after the youth from the two political parties forming Cord almost got physical as they heckled each other.
Ford K youths grabbed ODM T-shirts and caps and tore them into pieces.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and the host Moses Wetangula have arrived at the venue. Cord leader is Raila Odinga is yet to arrive.
Others in attendance are Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Mombasa senator Hassan Omar, Khalwale among other leaders.
Meanwhile, the tiff over Muliro Gardens venue had been resolved and the launch is set to take place once the leaders arrive.
Earlier there were fears that the launch was in limbo after a Kakamega county officials insisted Muliro Gardens will not host the launch.
However, the Star has established that Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has no reservations over the venue as earlier reported after Cord leader Raila Odinga intervened.
Preparations started on Friday with heavy police presence; “Muliro Gardens was today all cops like bees but we finally prevailed…” Kakamega senator Bonny Khalwale posted.
Police anticipated the showdown between governor Oparanya and senator Bonny Khalwales supporters.
Khalwale belongs to Ford Kenya while Oparanya is in ODM.
Khalwale wants to unseat Oparanya.
Raila is said to have earlier on reached out to Oparanya and Khalwale who had disagreed on the two venues but a consensus reached leading to an agreement on the Muliro gardens venue.
