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Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Friday, June 17, 2022, met a hostile crowd while campaigning in his home county of Kitui.

Kalonzo endured embarrassing scenes at Ikutha market in Kitui South constituency after he was heckled several times forcing him to cut short his address.

His speech was interrupted multiple times by the jeering crowd who shouted ‘kwenda uko’ (go away) forcing the Wiper leader to stop his address.

Kalonzo in trouble over local politics

The crowd shouted down Kalonzo in apparent disapproval of his attempts to campaign for Kitui South MP and Jubilee party candidate Racheal Kaki Nyamai.

The Wiper leader was trying to defend the area MP over the thorny issue of compensation for people whose lands were acquired and homes demolished during the construction of Kibwezi – Kitui highway.

Racheal Nyamai, who was the chairperson of the Parliamentary Lands Committee in the 12th parliament, has been accused by locals in her constituency of failing to address the compensation issue which was squarely on her docket.

Locals decried that they were impoverished by the Kibwezi-Kitui road project after their business premises were demolished and their cries for help went unheeded.

The irate gathering at Ikutha market refused to be addressed by Kalonzo and Nyamai, demanding that ODM candidate Onesmus Mumo King be allowed to speak instead.

The youthful ODM candidate is reportedly very popular with the electorate and is said to be the leading contender in the race for Kitui South MP seat in the forthcoming August 9 polls.

Kalonzo at one point threatened to have King disqualified from the elections by the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for allegedly disrespecting him.

“Mr King, even if you’re in Azimio, we are going to disqualify you. Control your supporters,” the Wiper leader warned as the charged crowd booed him.

It was also puzzling to see Kalonzo campaign for Jubilee candidate Nyamai yet his own Wiper party has a candidate – Daniel Mutua Ndambuki – who is vying for Kitui South MP seat.