[A section of Meru youths engaging police in running battles. They barricaded part of Meru-Nkuru road during Uhuru Kenyatta’s tour. Photo/Vincent Osumo]
Despite being generally a peaceful tour to vote rich Meru region, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tour was marred with ugly scenes in late hours on Saturday.
Earlier, Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto had addressed a host of rallies at Maua, Meru and Laare regions, exact places where ODM leader Raila Odinga made stopovers a week earlier.
But security agents engaged locals in running battles along Meru-Nkubu road as locals accused Jubilee regime of sidelining the region development wise.
In quest to have Kenyatta listen to them, they barricaded the main road near Maua forcing Kenyatta to use a different route for his safety.
The locals were protesting over impassable Nkubu-Nithi road which they said has been in a pathetic condition despite raising the issue for many years.
During the tour, Kenyatta laughed off opposition’s efforts to make inroads to the region adding that he was confident of overwhelming support.
Prior to his tour, Senator Kiraitu Murungi had faced hostility with locals often chanting ant-Jubilee slogans whenever he addressed a gathering.
The veteran leader was not spared either in Laare after angry locals chanted Pro-Peter Munya slogans when he was given chance to address them.