Kiogoro MCA Samuel Apoko wants journalist-turned-politician Walter Mocheche to be arrested and arraigned in court for allegedly inciting youths against him in a funeral function at Kiogoro on Friday.
The vocal MCA was forced to terminate his speech and subsequently run for his safety after a section of youths started shouting pro-Mocheche slogans, accusing the incumbent of incompetence.
The youths are also said to have roughed up the MCA before he ran for his safety by driving off from the function.
But Apoko blamed Mocheche of using ‘hooligans’ and called for his apprehension.
“I am disappointed that he can pay hooligans just to have me intimidated. This is not the kind of politics we want. Paying youths to target elected people in functions a primitive. I call upon the police to arrest him and charge him with violent conduct,” he said.
“We are a democratic nation and therefore it’s wrong to infringe my freedom of speech. The boys were singing his name and some even admitted having been paid to assassinate my character in public by humiliating me. He should be held responsible if Kenya wants to deal with such violence public gatherings,” he said.
However, Mr Mocheche has since denied the allegations and accused the MCA of tainting his name for political gains.
“It’s clear that he has lost substantially in the ground. He cannot create a scuffle and expect me to take responsibility. I dare them to arrest me. I have never paid youths to humiliate politicians because I know what’s wrong and right. He should stop the political gimmicks and concentrate on development,” he said.
Mr Apoko hit headlines early in 2014 when he was arrested after he had allegedly insulted President Uhuru Kenyatta in a public function.