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Chaos mars Raila Odinga's rally as Marsabit rivals clash

Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga addresses supporters in Marsabit Town. [ Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja leaders Raila Odinga and Martha Karua were caught up in the sibling rivalry within the coalition at a rally in Marsabit County marred by chaos.

The meeting at Moyale Stadium was well attended but hostility between supporters of Governor Mohamud Ali and Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani disrupted speeches.

There were minimal stoning throwing and reactionary crowd control by police that scared some supporters to walk out.

Trouble started after MP Qalicha Wario and Senator Godana Hargura accused the Treasury CS of withholding Sh1.8 billion funding due to Marsabit for the last four months as other counties received their share.

Council of Governors chair Martin Wambora had, in a protest letter earlier in the week, said: “This is despite 46 counties receiving their April allocations leaving out only Marsabit County and 31 counties receiving May allocations in the most recent disbursement which was made on June 16.”

Qalicha who spoke at the Moyale Stadium said Yattani, who was also in the rally, was to blame for the delayed disbursement “which was a right and not a favour.”

Senator Hurgura asked the CS to ensure the funds were disbursed, saying further delay was causing suffering. 

Governor Mohamud speech was drowned in heckling but he persevered to the end, saying he would not be distracted. “We have all our political arithmetic right,” he said.

Yatani did not speak at the rally but was recognised and asked to wave to the crowd.

Treasury CS Ukur Yatani speaks during a past presser. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

The Azimio leaders pledged to cultivate peace among communities in the northern county. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Azimio would prioritise peace in Marsabit to allow growth. He said clashes between the communities in the area had slowed projects.

Kalonzo urged Marsabit residents to vote with the rest of the former North Eastern region, saying the votes were sealed for Azimio from Kibwezi to Moyale.

Raila promised to build a leather factory in Marsabit under the “One County, One Factory” policy to harness the huge livestock population in the area.

“The leather factory will create jobs for locals and spur the local economy in Marsabit. We want to have shoes, jackets and other products made from Marsabit leather,” said the Azimio leader.

He also said the area would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of free schooling policy and the Sh6,000 social safety disbursement to vulnerable families if the Azimio camp form the next government.