Anti-riot police officers were on Saturday forced to intervene and thwart attempts to disrupt a rally organised by women politicians allied to the Embrace Kenya Movement.
The group which consists leaders in support of the union between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga had planned a meeting in Garissa.
However, their meeting at Garissa Township Grounds was temporarily disrupted by a group of youths, before the police came in and fired teargas to disperse the crowd.
The event later proceeded after calm was restored, with the trouble coming as a confirmation of initial intelligence reports that there was a plot to cause chaos at the function.
According to prior reports, the disruption had everything to do with local political battles between National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and area Governor Ali Korane.
Duale is also the Garissa Township MP.
The leaders proceeded to drum support for the Uhuru-Raila 2018 truce, with Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga calling for political calm.
“We have just come from elections, we need to work first so that Kenyans can see the benefits before we proceed with the 2022 election debate when the time comes. (Tumetoka uchaguzi juzi, tunataka kwanza tufanye kazi, wananchi wapate manufaa ya kazi, ndiyo tuendelee na mambo ya uchaguzi ikifika 2022)," she said.
On her part, host Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi said backing the two leaders will guarantee the region a position in the next government.
“Don't allow yourself to be dragged into the opposition, we don't want to go to the opposition since we are used to being in government.(Msikubali kupelekwa kwa upinzani, hatutaki kwenda opposition, sisi ni wale watu wamezoea kuwa kwa serikali)," she said.
Other leaders present included: Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi, Youth and Gender Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rachel Shebesh, among others.