Alfred Mutua met Raila Odinga shortly after he landed back home from Dubai, and the violence in Kondele, Kisumu county formed part of their discussions.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Mutua stressed that the violence in Kondele was not organized as claimed by some politicians allied to William Ruto.
The Machakos governor explained that Raila couldn’t sanction the violence because it it makes him look bad as a presidential candidate.
“I spend a few hours yesterday with Raila Odinga when I got back to the country and I could see he was very very agitated by what happened in Kisumu. And I can declare here from talking to him and others that this was not sanctioned by Raila Odinga. This was not sanctioned by his party or so, this was not sanctioned by his people because when this violence happens it makes him look bad because that’s his home ground. And as a presidential candidate it makes him look bad. And I told him you know me myself as a presidential candidate I want to be able to go everywhere in this country where people listen,” said Mutua.
The Machakos governor supported police explanation that the violence was caused by rival groups fighting over handouts given to them by Ruto’s team.
“Now the other thing that you need to note is this… and this is something that some of these politicians are doing especially the party affiliated with Boni Khalwale. And that is ferrying people. You know there is this culture of ferrying people, and we have seen it. People are given yellow t-shirts or whatever t-shirts and then they are ferried. Stop ferrying people because when you start ferrying people there is the issue of paying people cause there is a lot of payments that is going on. Watu wanapewa pesa sana wakuje hizi rallies and there is a lot of mvutano back and forth. Let us get the money out of the politics. The report I was getting last night there was also a problem in terms of money also,” said Mutua.
Alfred Mutua – Governor, Machakos: Raila was agitated with what happened in Kisumu & he didn’t sanction the violence because it makes him look bad as a presidential candidate. Some politicians ferry people from town to town to seem like they have a big crowd #DayBreak pic.twitter.com/i9LjhiaAuW
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 11, 2021
According to details from office of inspector General national police service, the DP and his team were warned to skip the Wednesday November 10th rally around and within Kondele over tensions as per the findings.
Police said there was tension within Kondele owing to distribution of campaign logistical funds amongst local groups.
Police in their statement said they warned Ruto to skip the rally in Kondele having gathered intelligence that there was tension in the area, but the DP didn’t heed their warning.
Related: Ruto Blames Police For Kondele Violence, Police Blames Ruto For Bribing Locals In Kisumu
