Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan/FILE
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has called for investigations into violence and disruption reported during a party meeting at Nembure Grounds in Manyatta Constituency, Embu County.
In a statement issued by Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan, the party condemned what it described as violence during a duly convened meeting involving elected grassroots UDA polling centre officials.
The meeting was presided over by Deputy Party Leader Kithure Kindiki and UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire.
UDA said it was “deeply disturbing” that the meeting was disrupted by individuals who, according to reports received by the party, were organised, mobilised and supervised by another leader.
The party also linked the alleged disruption to individuals associated with another party under the command of the leader.
UDA said several vehicles were reportedly razed down during the incident. It also said several UDA members, civilians and journalists sustained injuries in the ensuing chaos.
“The scale of violence witnessed in Embu today is unacceptable and constitutes a grave assault on democratic political participation,” Hassan said in the statement.
The party said acts of intimidation, destruction and physical violence had no place in Kenya’s constitutional democracy.
UDA also criticised the other party over what it termed a failure to uphold the standards expected of political actors.
“Political spaces must be contested through progressive ideas of transforming societies, lawful and democratic means, not through organised violence, intimidation or destruction of property,” the party said.
The statement said the events at Nembure raised questions about compliance with the electoral and political parties’ regulatory framework.
UDA cited the applicable regulations and codes of conduct administered by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).
The party has formally petitioned the IEBC and ORPP to urgently investigate the incident.
It wants the two institutions to commence appropriate proceedings over any breaches of the applicable Code of Conduct and other relevant legal and regulatory provisions.
UDA has also called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to commence immediate, impartial and expeditious investigations into the reported violence, destruction of property and injuries.
“The DCI must identify all persons responsible and commence speedy and appropriate prosecution where criminal culpability is established,” Hassan said.
The party’s statement comes after the disruption of the meeting attended by Kindiki and Mbarire, with UDA maintaining that political engagements should be conducted through lawful and democratic means.
The party said the reported events at Nembure required investigations by the relevant electoral, political parties and criminal justice institutions.
UDA urged the relevant authorities to establish what happened and take appropriate action where breaches of the law or applicable regulations are established.
