One person is feared dead and several others injured on Saturday, September 12 when police officers tried to engage youth who attempted to disrupt the meeting of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at Nembure Stadium in Embu County.

Reports indicate that when riot police repulsed them when they stormed the venue, the youth resorted to violence, including throwing stones, forcing the officers to act.

Kindiki was addressing more than 20,000 United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party grassroots officials drawn from polling centres across Embu County when the incident occured.

The riot police lobbed teargas canisters at the youth to try and disperse them.

Confirming the incident, Embu West Police Commander Vincent Kitili said that one person had been confirmed dead.

“What I know is that we took one body to the mortuary. Six vehicles were also torched and three others vandalised,” said Kitili.

Taking to his social media pages, DP Kindiki regretted the loss and damage brought about “by those responsible for” organizing the youth to disrupt his meeting.

“The Party condemns violence and demands that law enforcement agencies take punitive measures against all those responsible for perpetuating political violence. The Party stands for issue-based politics and a contest around who or which party has a better development track record and policy goals for Kenya’s future , rather than forcing support through lies, violence and useless slogans.”

Kindiki further said that UDA had tasked its leadership in Embu to verify the exact nature of the loss and/or damage, and to coordinate responses to stand in solidarity with all those adversely affected in one way or another.

More to follow…