ODM leaders condemn Jimi Wanjigi attack by youth

Presidential Hopeful Jimy Wanjigi addresses the press at Mash Park Hotel in Kisii County on September 17, 2021. Wanjigi accused some ODM politicians from Migori County of using youths to disrupt his Migori meeting. (Sammy Omingo, Standard)

ODM leaders have condemned the pelting of businessman Jimi Wanjigi with stones on Friday.

The leaders said party members were not involved in the chaos that was meted out on the presidential hopeful whose meeting was disrupted. They asked police to hasten their investigations into the incident.

Rowdy youth disrupted a delegates’ meeting that was to take place at Maranatha Faith Assemblies church’s hall in Migori town.

The youth who were armed with stones and other crude weapons invaded the venue, beating up delegates who were already seated.

Police were forced to lob teargas canisters at the rowdy crows to prevent further destraction. The meeting had to be terminated as the rowdy youth hang around to confirm that meeting would not take place before they could leave the venue.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed condemned the incident. “This cannot go on. I call on the police to thoroughly investigate this incident and bring all concerned parties to book,” he said.

“We have worked hard to create an environment where everyone can sell their policies across the country. This was the basis of the handshake,” said the MP.

John Mbadi, the National Chairman of party, while speaking on a local radio station on Friday night noted that they recognised Wanjigi who was an ODM party life member.

He, however, pointed out that Wanjigi has not been involving the right ODM party structures in his tours across the country.

He denied that the people who stoned Wanjigi were ODM party members. “Those who pelted Wanjigi with stones are not ODM party members,” Mr Mbadi said, adding that the party was not aware of such a meeting.

Migori ODM chairman Philip Makabongo, who had earlier announced that he was not aware of the meeting arranged by Wanjigi, said party members were free to visit any part of the country without intimidation.