A section of Western Kenya leaders whose planned rally was scuttled by the police on Saturday, have organised a new one, now set to happen on January 25.
Led by former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, the leaders were to hold a regional economic deliberations meeting at the Nabongo Grounds in Mumias, before the police came in to thwart it.
However, Khalwale now says that a new rally is being organised, and will happen at the same venue on the mentioned date.
"Despite the violent, brutal and uncouth disruption of the Western Economic Forum on 18/01/20, we remain unbowed. We will reconvene at the same Nabongo Grounds on 25/01/20. Our economy remains our priority," he wrote.
Last week, a section of Western Kenya leaders claimed the Nabongo meeting was aimed at countering the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) forum, at the Bukhungu Stadium, slightly over 30 kilometres away.
Despite the police cancelling the Nabongo forum's permit, the leaders vowed to proceed with their plans.
On Saturday, police were forced to fire teargas canisters in the air to disperse the leaders and their supporters, who had gathered at the Nabongo grounds.
According to Khalwale and his group, the meeting was aimed at looking into the plight of Western Kenya farmers and the collapsing sugar sector.