United Republican Party (URP) leaders in Nakuru supporting the referendum calls have accused local Jubilee leaders of inciting and funding youth to disrupt the signature collection exercise.
Led by URP Nakuru County vice chairman Jonathan Ng’eno, the leaders accused Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and other leaders of being behind the weekend disruption of a referendum signature signing rally in Njoro.
The URP leaders allied to Bomet County Governor Isaac Ruto said Jubilee leaders dished out money and incited the youth to disrupt the rally at Mauche Market in Mau Narok.
More than 50 youth, allegedly armed with crude weapons, disrupted the rally after outwitting police and torched an unknown number of referendum signature booklets that had been handed over to local leaders supporting the drive. The booklets had been issued by the Council of Governors chair Isaac Ruto who was accompanied by his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya.
“Police must investigate this matter and arrest the culprits. Nakuru County is not an isolated location in Kenya. Kenyans in this county who support the referendum must be given freedom and security to exercise their democratic rights,” said Rono.
Mbugua and other local leaders have over time warned they would not tolerate referendum politics in the county.