At least two people were injured after rival factions clashed at a Kenya Kwanza coalition rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi on Sunday, June 19, 2022.

Those injured include Embakasi East UDA aspirant Francis Mureithi, who had convened the event to consolidate presidential candidate William Ruto‘s support in the city.

Police lob tear gas canisters at Jacaranda

Police were forced to lob tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd that had reduced the event to a stone-throwing match.

Anti-riot officers were deployed to the facility on Sunday morning after it emerged that two factions were fighting over who should use it.

Mureithi claimed that the ground had been reserved for UDA after paying Ksh30,000 to the Nairobi County Government on behalf of the party and the Kenya Kwanza alliance. On the other hand, Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino, who is affiliated with the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition, also claimed to have booked the venue.

Babu Owino claimed he booked the ground before the Ruto-led team paid for it.

“I had booked Jacaranda grounds for my function today and notified the police while Ruto booked the same venue on the same day but in 2021 as per their notification letter,” he stated.

The legislator, however, urged his supporters to stay home in order to avoid a conflict with their rivals following the unexpected turn of events.

“I have full rights to use this ground today but let my people stay at home because we love peace,” he wrote.

Before his response, politicians led by embattled gubernatorial aspirant Johnson Sakaja had on Sunday morning alleged that there were plans by the state to block the rally.

They protested the move vowing to attend the rally at the venue.

“Kenya Kwanza booked and paid for the Jacaranda grounds for our rally this afternoon. We won’t buckle at the intimidation of the State. We have a right to assemble. Our resolve for Nairobi and Kenya is clear and unstoppable,” Sakaja stated.

Ruto, through his official Twitter account, also informed his supporters to avail themselves at the venue for the rally.

“The Kenya Kwanza fraternity and the entire hustler nation wish a blessed Sunday to all. Tukutane Jacaranda after church(let’s all meet at Jacaranda after Church),” Ruto said in a tweet.

The Kenya Kwanza fraternity and the entire hustler nation wishes a blessed Sunday to all na tukutane Jacaranda after church.

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) June 19, 2022