NAIROBI, Kenya – Trans Nzoia County Assembly Deputy Speaker Mwale Obed Mahanga has been arrested over allegations linking him to a plan to obstruct President William Ruto’s motorcade during the Head of State’s visit to Kitale last month.
The Matisi Ward MCA was arrested on Monday, November 2, and detained at Kapenguria Police Station ahead of an expected court appearance on Tuesday, November 3, according to Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
Natembeya confirmed the arrest, saying the county legislator was facing accusations relating to the October 16 confrontation in Kitale, when Ruto’s motorcade encountered a convoy associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi movement.
“Obed Mwale has been locked up in a cell, waiting for arraignment in court tomorrow at 9am. Some of the charges are obstructing Ruto’s motorcade while in Kitale,” Natembeya said.
The governor further claimed that Mwale was accused of sponsoring groups of individuals to disrupt Kenya Kwanza rallies in Trans Nzoia County.
Arrest follows Kitale confrontation
The accusations relate to events on October 16, when President Ruto was in Trans Nzoia for a development tour that included the launch of projects in Kitale.
As the President’s motorcade was leaving the town, Sifuna arrived in the area with members of the Linda Mwananchi brigade. The two convoys were captured passing each other near the Kitale flyover.
After Ruto’s departure, Sifuna and Natembeya addressed supporters before police moved in to disperse the gathering using tear gas.
The confrontation left two police officers injured and two government vehicles damaged, according to the National Police Service.
In a statement issued after the incident, police said investigations had commenced into the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and warned that anyone found culpable would face action under the law.
However, the police statement did not name Mwale or publicly link him to the reported injuries and damage.
Linda Mwananchi leaders condemn arrest
Mwale’s arrest has drawn reactions from leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement, some of whom have described the action as political persecution.
The MCA is expected to be represented by volunteer lawyers allied to the movement.
Footage from Kapenguria Police Station showed supporters and members of his legal team gathering at the facility following news of his detention.
The arrest comes amid heightened political tensions between Natembeya and the national government, with the governor having repeatedly clashed with Ruto over development projects and political influence in Trans Nzoia.
Natembeya-Ruto rivalry adds political dimension
One of the major disputes between the two leaders has centred on the Masinde Muliro Market project in Kitale, whose reported cost stands at Sh821 million.
Natembeya has challenged the national government’s role and claims surrounding the project, while Ruto has defended his administration’s intervention in completing the facility.
The governor has also previously raised concerns over the withdrawal of his security detail, further intensifying the public disagreement.
The case is expected to clarify the specific charges facing the MCA and the evidence investigators intend to present.
