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Armed protesters yesterday invaded Kisii Agricultural Training Centre and disrupted a meeting for candidates seeking governorship, senatorial and woman representative seats  organised by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC), leaving a trail of destruction.

They demolished a perimeter fence at the farmers resource centre and disrupted a training session, as security officers battled them for the better part of the morning. Some farmers had to seek shelter in a cow-shed, while others scampered for safety. The police lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse them and one officer is said to have suffered head injuries. The  protesters, mostly young men, chanted anti-IEBC slogans.

The poll contestants, led by Chris Obure, vying for Kisii county governor’s seat, condemned the incident and urged security officers and IEBC to take action against the perpetrators.

Credible elections

Simba Arati, ODM governorship aspirant and Dagoretti North MP, arrived amid chaos and left hurriedly. Contestants Ezekiel Machogu and Sam Ongeri, vying through DAP-K and UDA, respectively, were not at the meeting.

“I do not know why one candidate wants to be a player and a referee at the same time. Such chaos is putting the electorate under fear and can lead to voter apathy”, said Obure at Ufanisi Resort, Kisii.

He was accompanied by his rival; Josephat Onchiri (Usawa Party), Omingo Magara (senator candidates, Jubilee Party, Woman Rep candidates Vicky Onderi (TND), Peris Onsarigo (Jubilee), Janet Ong’era (ODM) and Kenya National Congress Secretary General Ben Gisore. He said they were confident that IEBC would conduct free, fair and credible elections.

Obure said one of the governorship aspirants had hired youths to cause violence, adding that residents of the county would not support leaders who cause violence.

Magara urged  Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene.

“We want Raila to get 98 per cent of the votes from this area. Let us sober up and contest for the polls without intimidation,” Magara said.