Chaos erupted on Friday in Nyeri Town constituency during a meeting organised by a group of women leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
Dubbed Inua Mama Jamii, the group had earlier visited Kirinyaga County where they were hosted by Woman Representative Purity Ngiruci, a chief critic of Governor Ann Waiguru.
But at Nyeri, it proved difficult for the team, with their host Rahab Mukami struggling to contain a group of rowdy youths who shouted pro-Uhuru slogans.
The women leaders had pledged loyalty to both Uhuru and Ruto, forcing the youths to demand that they only back President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Standoff ensued for several hours, forcing police officers manning the meeting to arrest several people as a way of restoring calmness in the region.
Among the leaders present were county MPs Wangui Ngirich (Kirinyaga) Jane Chebaibai (Elgeyo Marakwet) Gladys Boss-Shollei (Uasin Gishu) Beatrice Nkatha (Tharaka/Nithi), Gertrude Mbeyu (Kilifi), Lydia Haika (Taita Taveta) and Faith Gitau (Nyandarua).
Maragua MP Mary Waithira and Kandara MP Alice Wahome pointed fingers at Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, alleging he was behind the chaos witnessed earlier in the meeting.
“We will not allow anyone to intimidate women, we do not have to ask for permission to hold a meeting in this constituency,” she said.
Police officers led by Nyeri OCPD Paul Kuria tried to intervene but Wambugu refused to leave, with Waithira taking to the podium and vowing not to leave also.
Mukami then asked her supporters to disperse, stating the meeting could not go on.
But Ngunjiri, who later stormed into the meeting, accused the police of selective justice, insisting that they wrongly targeted perceived pro-Uhuru team.
"So some police officers in Nyeri want us to believe it’s okay to shout ‘Ruto’ in an event but when someone shouts ‘Uhuru’ ... you get arrested?" he lamented.