MPs taste teargas as youth fight ahead of Ruto Kenol town church fundraiser

Chaos erupted at Kenol town in Murang’a County on Sunday morning as pro-Tangatanga and pro-Kieleweke groups clashed near the AIPCA Church Kenol where that Deputy President William Ruto was expected to attend a fundraiser.

Kenol residents said that two buses carrying youths arrived in the town early in the morning and proceeded to AIPCA church where they started throwing stones into the compound.

Their actions angered Kenol residents who came out in large numbers and repulsed the youths towards the Kenol-Thika highway where they eventually cornered and beat them up.

Some of the cornered youths said they had been mobilised by politicians with the promise of receiving Sh1,000 pay.

One of the youths was beaten until he was unconscious and was taken away from the scene by police, with some saying he was dead.

However, Maragua OCPD Keter declined to confirm the status of the man, saying that he would do so later.

As pro-Ruto MPs continued to trickle into Kenol town, the police continued to lob teargas canisters at the people gathering outside the church while a few were thrown inside the church, halting the Sunday service.

At the height of the chaos, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro came out from the church to address the media, saying the county police commander Josphat Kinyua had been informed of the fundraiser.

As he was speaking, a teargas canister was thrown at him, causing journalists to scamper to safety. Some incurred minor injuries.

When Ruto eventually arrived at the church, sanity had been restored and the service went on with heavy police presence manning the streets outside the church and pro-Ruto youths chanting his praises outside the church.