Cleophas Malala, a senator from Kakamega, has denounced his county’s administration for willfully obstructing their access to Bukhungu Stadium.
Today, Sunday, July 31, it was anticipated that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, led by Deputy President William Ruto, will conduct a large gathering at the Stadium to promote their platform.
The county government said that their decision to obstruct them was made to allow them to clean the stadium before Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja, which will take place there in two days.
Malala, who is vying for the County’s top position through the ANC party, a Kenya Kwanza affiliate, was baffled as to why the county intended to destroy their event despite the fact that they were willing to follow the rules by paying the required amount of money.
“We have been blocked from accessing the stadium for our grand rally in Kakamega yet we are bringing revenue to the county government,” said Malala.
Last month, the Kenya Kwanza Brigade held their rally there after paying KSh 100,000, which has since been raised to KSh 900,000.
“Despite the sudden increment, we were ready to pay, with me here is a check of KSh 900,000 an amount they have refused on allegations of the banks being closed, this is sabotage of the highest degree,” added Malala.
Malala urged his supporters to show up in huge numbers anyway, warning that if the county sticks to its stance of forbidding them from holding their gathering inside the stadium, they would do it outside.
“If they refuse this money, our meeting will be hold outside this field, we will share the KSh 900,000 among our selfs, kindly invite others to come and please avoid violence because they will use the opportunity to disrupt our meeting,” he said.
He was accompanied by Benjamin Washiali, the MP for Mumias East, who had been detained by police the day before on suspicion of leading Kenya Kwanza supporters inside the stadium without permission.
He, too, lambasted the county administration for raising the venue cost to nearly KSh 1 million while allowing their rivals to use the stadium for free.
“I had earlier talked to the stadium manager and he told me that the county government had ordered the price to be increased from KSh 100,000 to KSh 900,000 shillings due to the hard economic times,”said Washiali.
