Political leaders in Uasin Gishu County have come out to condemn a Friday evening incident that saw a helicopter that was carrying former Prime Minister Raila Odinga stoned.
The incident happened in Kabenes, Soy Sub County where the ODM leader had gone to condole with the family of Mzee Jackson Kibor who at the time of his arrival had been buried.
According to a statement issued by Raila, the youths had been “mobilized, armed and paid to cause mayhem and disorder”.
“In the event that took place at Kabenes in Uasin Gishu, youth attacked my plane, destroying the air shield with rocks that were clearly aimed at me. On my way to the plane, they had pelted my vehicles with stones,” read part of a statement on the ODM leaders Facebook page.
He also said Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and area Member of Parliament Caleb Kositany should be held responsible for the incident.
Mandago has since condemned the incident, saying he had a good engagement with the ODM leader at Mzee Kibor’s home.
In a statement, the County boss said it was his car that Raila used to get back to the helicopter.
The car had a shattered windscreen as a result of the incident.
“The former Prime Minister attended the burial in the evening and we had cordial engagement with him and other leaders. It is regrettable a few rough elements pelted his helicopter after we had bid each other goodbye. We should all shun violence of any nature for us to grow our democracy,” Mandago said in the statement.
“Hon Odinga and his enturage used my official vehicle from the late Mzee Kibor’s compound to where helicopter parked. My vehicle windscreen was shuttered in the process. This was a case of a security lapse to that should not happen again anywhere in the country,” he added.
Deputy President William Ruto has also condemned the incident saying every politician has a right to sell his agenda on any part of the country.
“We should listen, evaluate their policies and then decide whom to support. Political violence is retrogressive, divisive and tears down our democracy. We condemn and reject it without reservation,” he tweeted.
MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Caleb Kositany of Soy also condemned the incident while questioning lack of enough police officers at Mzee Kibor’s burial, even after it was anticipated that the ODM leader would attend.
“The police should take full responsibility for what happened in Kabenes. Someone of stature like the Former Prime Minister shouldn’t attend any function without heavy presence of the police. There were only two police officers surrounding the chopper,” Sudi posted on his Facebook page.
The National Police Service has since ordered a probe into the incident.
