The drama was witnessed on Saturday, July 30 at Kakamega’s Bukhungu stadium when police officers arrested an MP allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali was dramatically arrested by police officers at the stadium in what the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party members say was a move by the state to scuttle Ruto’s campaign.
In video footage seen by The Kenya Times, the MP was dragged by police officers to a waiting police vehicle as he resisted arrest.
“What have I done, why are you arresting me? You are beating me. You are beating me…” Washiali was heard saying amid the scuffle.
In a statement, Nelson Havi who is eying the Westlands Paliarmentary seat said that the state was using the police to derail UDA’s campaigns in Western Kenya.
“A Luhya elected leader being tortured in Kakamega Town by Police Officers on the instructions of top leadership to curtail his freedom of association,” Havi argued.
According to UDA insiders, Washiali was inspecting the state of Bukhungu Stadium ahead of the party’s rally which is to be held in Kakamega today, on Sunday, July 31.
Washiali’s arrest comes days after Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said an insider from State House leaked information stating that Uhuru has been holding meetings to frustrate his, Moses Kuria’s and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa’s bid for office ahead of the August 9 General Elections.
Nyoro further claimed that the meetings were held at State House Nakuru aimed at targetting Ruto’s close allies.
“I want to tell the President that we have been informed that you are planning to harm Deputy President William Ruto. The President is planning to target Moses Kuria, Ndindi Nyoro and Kimani Ichungwa,” Nyoro said.
Ruto also made allegations against Uhuru, stating that the Head of State was targeting him.
In a statement that shocked the country, Ruto who was on the campaign trail in Nandi on Friday, July 29 asked Uhuru to leave his (Ruto’s) kids out of their political fallout.
“I want to ask the President not to be the source of threats in Kenya. Stop threatening us. Your work is to ensure that all Kenyans are4 safe. Stop telling us that we will know that you are President. We are not people who can be threatened. We are the ones who elected you,” the DP said.
