Walukhe, Barasa in cat-and-mouse game with police as they seek to hold anti-BBI rally

Western Kenya MPs allied to DP William Ruto’s camp, Tanga Tanga, on Saturday morning engaged police in cat-and-mouse games as they [leaders] attempted to hold a parallel anti-BBI rally in Mumias.

The MPs, led by Sirisia lawmaker John Walukhe and his Kimilili counterpart, Didmus Barasa, were first eyeing a Mumias stadium for their planned rally, which was cancelled by police on January 15.

MP Walukhe, who wore bike-riding gear on Saturday morning, arrived at Harambee Grounds aboard a boda boda that he was riding. Harambee Grounds is 10 kilometers from the Mumias Stadium, where they had planned to hold the parallel rally.

Others who were with Walukhe include former Sports minister Rashid Echesa.

The leaders vowed to address their supporters at Mumias, saying their planned meeting is not targeted at anti-BBI politics, but start a development discourse that would see the revival of Mumias Sugar Company.

“Raila has, for long, been duping Western Kenya constituents that he has our welfare at heart. That is not true. We want to meet today and talk about the problems facing the Western Kenya people, and discuss the possible solutions to the problems. We do not want to talk about the BBI politics,” Walukhe told K24 Digital.

With police trailing the Tanga Tanga-allied MPs, Walukhe and co. started moving towards Sianda Market, where they vowed to address the constituents.

The Mumias meeting was organised by former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Rashid Echesa—both loyal to Ruto for his 2022 presidential ambitions.

Police issued a letter canceling the meeting late Wednesday, citing a possibility of violent scenes due to a similar meeting in Kakamega fronted by COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli and other Luhya leaders who have endorsed the initiative by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

By 12:40pm Saturday, Raila Odinga had already arrived at the Bukhungu Stadium for the BBI consultative meeting.

Others who had arrived by that time include ANC Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula.