Supporters of Nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro outside the Orange House on Wednesday. [PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
There was drama at the Orange House in Nairobi after a top ODM official was kicked, punched and his clothes torn on Wednesday over the party's recent nomination's move.
The party's Executive Directore Oduor Ong’wen was roughed up by supporters of Nominated Senator and Ruaraka MP hopeful Elizabeth Ongoro at the party's headquarters in protest.
Ms Ongoro and her supporters stormed the party offices to lament being unfairly blocked from contesting on grounds that her camp had caused violence against supporters of her rival and incumbent MP Tom Kajwang’ last month.
Ongoro added that a section of the party was peddling lies that she had defected, arguing that she only heard of her alleged defection through the media.
“I had travelled and, while I was away, I heard in the media that I had defected and my competitor Kajwang’ had been given a direct nomination certificate,” Ms Ongoro told the crowd, her eyes hidden behind wide, dark sunglasses. “I said I won’t comment…I had to come here to seek explanation from the party,” she said.
The crowd chanted and called for Ong'wen to come address their issues and clear his name.
“Where is Ong’wen? He is killing the party! He is not good!” they chanted.
When Ong’wen tried to address the crowd, the protests intensified and the crowd eventually got to him, roughing him and tearing his clothes.
Anti-riot police had to fire in the air to quell the commotion before Ongoro held a closed-door meeting with party officials in the building.