Anti-riot police officers were deployed on Monday in all major towns in Kirinyaga County to thwart planned demonstration to force embattled Governor Anne Mumbi Waiguru out of office.
The officer’s in full riot gear patrolled on foot while others in police vehicles to keep off demonstrators from the main town’s as tension remained high across the county.
According to the police, the planned demonstration was illegal as the planners had not notified the authorities.
The police are said to have been under strict instructions not to allow any demonstration with criminal investigation officer’s instructed to identify the planners.
On June 22, leaflets calling for mass action to force the governor out of office were circulated across the county appealing to residents to come out in large numbers for the demos.
The leaflets written in English and Kikuyu language saying people of Kirinyaga are tired of corruption and the governor must go.
“People of Kirinyaga are tired of corruption. We don’t want any more empty promises,” read one of the leaflets.
Kirinyaga Commissioner Jim Njoka downplayed the deployment of police across the county but warned that security officers will not allow any illegal demos.
The security boss warned that police will not hesitate to take severe action against anybody who tries to disturb peace in the county.
“We are not aware of any demonstration since the organizers didn’t notify the police of the planned action,” he said.
Meanwhile, it was a beehive of activity at the Kirinyaga County Assembly as MCAs and their lawyers put last-minute touches to their case for impeachment of Waiguru by the Special Senate Committee.
Mutira Ward MCA David Kinyua Wangui said that all is set for Tuesday’s hearing.
The MCA said that the assembly has confidence in the Senate team and hope that they will be impartial and allow them to present their evidence against Waiguru.
