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Opposition Chiefs For Joint Campaign
- Details
- Published on Monday, 23 July 2007 00:18
They also accused the General Service Unit of harassing Opposition supporters.
MPs Henry Obwocha (Ford-K) and Jimmy Angwenyi (Kanu) and Zebedeo Opore (Kanu), who are allied to former Finance Minister Simeon Nyachae, said the Opposition and their sympathisers within Kanu would throw their weight behind Mr. James Magara.
Addressing a press conference in Kisii town, the MPs, accompanied by Mr. Magara, claimed that the para-military GSU personnel were already in South Mugirango "disguised as Kanu youths and terrorising" Opposition supporters.
Opposition leaders Wamalwa Kijana (Ford-K), Mwai Kibaki (DP) and Charity Ngilu (SDP) and Mr. Nyachae will lead a joint campaign for Mr. Magara, a brother of the immediate former MP, Mr. Enock Magara, who died in a car crash last October.
Mr. Obwocha, Mr. Angwenyi and Mr. Opore alleged that there were plans to hire thugs to cause chaos at various centres to justify the deployment of the GSU while blaming the violence on Ford-Kenya.
"The GSU personnel from their Kilgoris base in Transmara District, have teamed up with Kanu youths known as Chinkororo to cause mayhem and we are asking the Government to remove them immediately," said Mr. Obwocha.
The MPs alleged that the special police unit was sent to the constituency four days ago.
The three MPs called for the arrest of another local MP for allegedly promoting "warlike activities." They cited an incident last Thursday where he allegedly led his supporters in terrorising Ford-K supporters, including four members of the Magara family.
But Kanu candidate David Kombo and his campaign coordinator, Mr. Sam Nyamweya, blamed the escalation of the campaign violence on Ford-Kenya supporters.
Mr. Kombo claimed that he was popular and did not need the support of terror squads to win votes.
Mr. Nyamweya accused the Opposition of "running scared on realising that they are losing the seat to Kanu".
They urged the constituents to turn out in large numbers to welcome President Moi, when he arrives on Monday to campaign for the Kanu candidate.
Electoral Commission chairman Samuel Kivuitu yesterday threatened to disqualify political parties whose supporters were behind the violence in South Mugirango.
Mr. Kivuitu cited the violence that broke out during a Kanu rally at Tabaka market where scores were injured, saying those behind it will be penalised.
"It is up to the candidates to ensure that their supporters do not disrupt or cause mayhem during the electioneering period," he said.
He issued the warning while addressing candidates and elections officials in the constituency at Nyamarambe divisional headquarters.
He cautioned civil servants against taking part in the campaigns saying they risked prosecution. At the same time, Ford-K candidate Magara called on the Commissioner of Police to investigate death threats issued to his family by a Kanu MP.
He said the MP led a team of Kanu supporters in beating up his family members, leaving four of them critically injured.
Mr. Magara said his sister, Karen, suffered head injuries during the fracas at Nyabigege.
