Protests erupt over Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala’s arrest

Supporters of Budalangi Member of Parliament Raphael Wanjala have taken to the streets demanding his immediate release.

The supporters, who have vowed to continue with their demonstrations until Wanjala’s release, have attributed his woes to former MP Ababu Namwamba whom they accuse of meddling in the affairs of the constituency.

Wanjala was on Saturday afternoon arrested in Kisumu following a scuffle between his supporters and those of Mr. Namwamba, who is now the Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba,  at the Sigiri bridge.

The two leaders and their supporters clashed during an inspection tour of national government projects in the region organized by Transport and Infrastructure CAS Chris Obure.

Wanjala is alleged to have incited his supporters to block the former area MP from accessing the dais but police dispersed the rowdy youth to facilitate Namwamba’s access to the bridge.

Wanjala accused Namwamba of interfering with his job saying, “when he was MP for 10 years, I never went to any of his development projects; we could only possibly meet in funerals. I want to ask him that I now have the mandate to perform and deliver for the people of Budalangi.”

Namwamba, however, brushed off the incident as village drama saying, “I’m playing politics in Washington DC, New Delhi, Pretoria. I cannot leave the globe to come and start engaging in village issues.”

Wanjala’s supporters are further said to have pelted the helicopter carrying Namwamba with stones.