Nyando MP caught up in Kisumu battle

By KEVINE OMOLLO

Kisumu, Kenya: Hundreds of armed youths in Kisumu engaged Nyando MP Fred Outa in running battles. The MP, who was to hold a rally in the city, fled and cancelled the rally amid tight police security.

Chanting “Outa go and develop Nyando, leave Ranguma alone,” the youths thronged the venue and disarranged the seats to show their displeasure with the MP.

Police lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the rowdy youths who had thronged Aga Khan Hall and Nyerere Road to bar the MP from accessing the venue. The youths claimed Mr Outa, who has been in bitter rivalry with Governor Jack Ranguma, wanted to use the rally to defend corruption allegations against an executive member of the county Government.

“He (Outa) has been meddling in issues of the county Government with the aim of soiling Ranguma’s name,” shouted a protester.

The meeting was said to have been organised by the MP and a section of Members of the County Assembly to put pressure on Ranguma to approve a Sh18 billion Solid Waste Management tender to a German firm.