NAIROBI, Kenya- Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has revealed that she and another leader were followed by an unidentified vehicle after they rushed to assist East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Kanini Kega following an alleged attack in Ol Kalou ahead of the constituency’s parliamentary by-election.
Speaking after the incident, Maina said she and Kirinyaga Senator James Murango were having lunch at Makuti when they received reports that Kega had allegedly been threatened, shot at and forced into hiding after campaign activities in Ol Kalou on Monday.
“We immediately left to find out what had happened and assist him. A Subaru that had been parked outside immediately started trailing us after we left,” Maina said, adding that they eventually reached their destination safely.
She expressed relief that Kega was unharmed but voiced concern over what she described as growing political intimidation ahead of the July 16 by-election.
“I think it’s very unfortunate. We are grateful that Kanini Kega made it out alive,” she said, while claiming that residents of Ol Kalou were peaceful and were not responsible for the violence reported during the campaigns.
The claims come a day after Kega alleged that his convoy came under attack by armed men after he concluded campaign activities in Ol Kalou.
In a video shared on social media, the former Kieni MP claimed that three vehicles carrying armed officers pursued his convoy as he travelled towards Nyahururu.
He further said that his vehicle was sprayed with bullets before he escaped and sought refuge at an undisclosed location in Oljororok.
Kega said he later handed over what he described as a live bullet and the butt of a gun recovered from the scene to police at Kasuku Police Station.
The National Police Service had not publicly responded to either Maina’s claims of being trailed or Kega’s allegations of an attack by the time of publication.
The incidents have heightened political tensions ahead of Thursday’s Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, which has already prompted the deployment of more than 1,000 police officers to provide security during the vote.