Tension ran high in Mbooni Ward on Thursday after Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua was heckled and forced to hurriedly leave a polling station during the ongoing by-election. A circulating video shows Mutua attempting to address a restless crowd before the situation quickly escalated, prompting his security detail to whisk him away.
According to eyewitness accounts captured in the video, the drama began when Mutua arrived at the polling centre, allegedly to “check on the voting progress.”
However, a group of agitated youths confronted him, accusing the Cabinet Secretary of attempting to influence the process. The crowd, which appeared firmly aligned to the Wiper Democratic Movement, loudly expressed their displeasure, insisting that Mbooni was “purely Wiper territory.”
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In the footage, Mutua is seen raising his hands in an effort to calm the residents, urging them to maintain peace. His attempts were, however, met with chants demanding that he leave immediately.
The tensions intensified, with some youths shouting that they would not allow “anyone opposed to Kalonzo Musyoka” to interfere with the by-election.
As the heckling grew louder, Mutua’s security team swiftly intervened, escorting him away from the area to ensure his safety. The crowd continued chanting as he exited, underscoring the deeply rooted political emotions surrounding the by-election.
Residents interviewed afterwards vowed to protect what they termed as “the will of the people,” saying they were committed to ensuring the seat is clinched by the Wiper Party. Several locals indicated that they planned to stay at polling stations long after voting to guard the ballots until counting is completed.
The by-election in Mbooni has drawn significant national attention, with analysts citing it as a key test of political influence in the Ukambani region. Authorities have urged calm as the voting process continues.
WATCH the video of Alfred Mutua being escorted out of the voting center in Mbooni ward.