One person was killed and several others injured after violent clashes erupted at a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots meeting attended by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Nembure, Embu County, on Saturday, September 12.
The National Police Service confirmed the fatality in an official statement, adding that six vehicles were set alight and a number of people wounded during the unrest.
Kindiki was safely evacuated from the venue as officers moved to restore order.
Police Statement on the Nembure Clashes The NPS, in a statement Saturday evening, said a group of individuals made an unlawful attempt to breach the meeting, prompting officers to act decisively and repel the assailants.
Several suspects were arrested at the scene.
“Regrettably, one person was fatally injured, six vehicles were torched and several persons injured during the chaos,” the NPS said in its statement.
The service announced that investigations had commenced and warned that anyone found to have taken part in the violence would face prosecution.
“Let this serve as an unequivocal warning: any individual found to have participated in this or any similar act of lawlessness will be pursued relentlessly. Stern action will be taken in accordance with the law. There will be no exceptions,” the statement read.
Kindiki had convened the meeting at Nembure grounds to engage UDA party delegates and grassroots leaders.
Police deployed tear gas to disperse youths who stormed the venue.
Witnesses said approximately ten vehicles were destroyed in total during the unrest, including one belonging to journalist Murimi from Wimwaro in Runyenjes.
Governor Mbarire Points Finger at Opposition MP
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who also serves as the national chairperson of UDA, directly accused Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji of orchestrating the disruption.
Mukunji is aligned with the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Mbarire alleged that Mukunji visited the Manyatta Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college and instructed students to attend the meeting and demand KSh 10,000 each upon arrival, an instruction they reportedly declined.
She added that youths were later ferried to the venue in Nissan vans and told to demand KSh 2,000 each from Kindiki on arrival.
Security personnel, having received prior intelligence, restricted entry to accredited UDA members and delegates only.
The governor said the violence persisted even after the meeting ended, with some delegates attacked while travelling home and others forced to seek shelter in nearby residences.
She called for the identification and arrest of those responsible and demanded full restitution for damaged property.
The UDA party, in a separate statement attributed to Kindiki, condemned the violence and directed its Embu leadership to assess the full extent of losses and coordinate support for those affected.
“The Party condemns violence and demands that law enforcement agencies take punitive measures against all those responsible for perpetuating political violence,” the statement said.
The NPS said further updates would be issued as investigations progressed.
