Police on Tuesday arrested former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama at Jomo Kenyatta polling station in Msambweni Constituency in unclear circumstances.
At the time of his arrest, Muthama was in the company of former Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale and Msambweni independent candidate Feisal Bader.
The leaders were just a stone-throw away from the polling station when they realized police officers were trailing them.
After noting the police officers, the leaders entered the polling station leading to the confrontation with the security agents.
As police effected the arrest, residents queuing to cast their ballots at the polling station broke out in chants, singing “yote yawezekana bila Joho [All is possible without Joho].”
The police officers did not seize Khalwale after he confronted them demanding to know the reason for restraining them.
Muthama was whisked to Port Police Station in Mombasa County.
Following Muthama’s arrest, MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto cried foul over alleged intimidation during the ongoing voting in the by-election.
Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi claimed that police officers have been harassing MPs at different polling stations where they are monitoring the by-election.
“Why are we being harassed yet we are also agents in the polling stations. It is not fair. This is intimidation of the highest order,” Sudi said.
Khatib Mwashetani, the Lungalunga MP, also claimed that police officers have been trailing him whenever he is in the company of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa.
“We have the police officers escorting us everywhere we go. This is intimidation,” he said.
