Police have banned a rally scheduled to be held at Mumias Sugar Sports Complex grounds on Saturday to counter another meeting hosted by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Mumias West police boss Peter Katam said the rally organised by National Assembly Majority Chief Whip Benjamin Washiali was banned over security grounds.
The announcement by the police confirmed earlier statements by Central Organisations of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli that police would stop the Mumias meeting, which posed serious threat to the success of the Bukhungu BBI rally.
The meeting in Mumias was to be graced by Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford-Kenya boss Moses Wetang’ula. The police could not explain how the two meetings convened 35 kilometers apart would raise security concerns.
Atwoli, accompanied by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi and Woman MP Elsie Muhanda addressed a press conference exuding confidence that the Mumias rally would not be held and that the conveners would be put under house arrest.
Attempts to get a comment from Washiali who was the chief convener and mobiliser of the rally was unavailable for comment as he did not respond to phone calls and text messages.
Last week, Washiali claimed up to thirty MPs drawn from Jubilee Party, ANC and Ford-K from the counties of Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia and Trans Nzoia had confirmed participation.
