Police prevent Mwingi demos

Police sealed Tseikuru Market in Mwingi North Constituency to prevent demonstrations against embattled Deputy County Commissioner.

The officers, including the General Service Unit commandeered by area OCPD Ezekiel Chepkwony, erected road blocks leading to the market and banned people from gathering in groups.

Local MCAs Kilonzo Kauthi (Tseikuru), Angeline Mbula (Kyuso) and Beatrice Musyoka (nominated) argued in vain with Mr Chepkwony, his Administration Police counterpart Bakari Galana and Criminal investigation boss David Simiyu, saying they had notified the County Commissioner Moffat Kangi that they had applied for the peaceful protest to demand the removal of Deputy County Commissioner Paul Merinyang.

There was a light moment when a pick-up carrying a group of youth who had earlier been arrested and charged at Kyuso Law Court arrived chanting the anti-police action.

Chepkwony attempted to lobby a tear gas canister at the group but the youth scattered in the market.
The OCPD said the planned demonstrations were unlicenced. “We only received request for the protest through an anonymous applicant who did not indicate his address,” Chepkwony said.

But Kauthi, Mbula and Musyoka accused the police of trying to impose a “rejected” public servant on locals. The MCAs accused Merinyang of alleged abuse of office, including authoritarian leadership.

They said the officer was handling the management of relief food distribution single handedly after he disregarded a committee to oversee the exercise.