Chaos as Wetangula launches presidential bid; Raila, Oparanya skip function

Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula officially launched his 2017 presidential bid on Saturday at the historic Masinde Muliro Gardens, Kakamega during a rally skipped by Coalitions for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

The meeting was characterized by chaos that have left two people seriously injured, with Wetangula, who was installed as a Luhya Community elder, saying he will focus on strengthening devolution, fighting graft, uniting Kenyans and ensuring equity in resource and job allocations.

Those injured were roughed up during clashes between Oparanya and Wetangula supporters at the venue, with trouble starting when Oparanya supporters accosted their counterparts.

The injured have been rushed to hospital.

Police were forced to use teargas to separate the warring sides, with guests at one time being forces to scamper for safety after police lobbed teargas into the crowd.

Kalonzo has criticized the police for police lobbing teargas into the crowds, with Senator Omar Hassan urging CORD supporters to turn their guns on Jubilee and end internal row.

The ugly scenes are widely seen as an escalation of hostilities between Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya on one side and Wetangula and Senator Boni Khalwale on the other.

Oparanya had earlier strongly opposed the launch by Wetangula, saying Kakamega is an “ODM zone” and that Wetangula should launch his bid in Bungoma, before CORD leader Raila Odinga intervened.