Moses Nyandusi Nyakeramba, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate in the ongoing Kiamokama Ward by-election in Nyaribari Masaba constituency, Kisii County, has been arrested.
Nyakeramba was forced to get out of his car by police officers a few metres from Moremani polling station where he was going to cast his vote.
The police recovered sums of money stacked in a travelling bag, alleging voter bribery. Nyakeramba was arrested alongside a woman who accompanied him to the polling station.
The police officers were forced to use tear gas to force the UDA candidate to alight from his car and also disperse his supporters. The candidate and his supporters are also accused also to have plans to bar voters from voting.
As he was being bundled into a police car, Nyakeramba alleged that his arrest was a sign of intimidation for him and his supporters who are getting out to vote.
“The police are getting it wrong lobbing tear gas canisters inside my car to get it me out is wrong. Police are for peace and order but here they are beating and arresting us,” said Nyakeramba.
Kenya National Congress Party Secretary General Ben Gisore while speaking to the press expressed his disappointment at how the excercise was going on, noting that two of his party agents were earlier on arrested by the police.
Benson Ntabo, Gesussu MCA however said the voting was going on smoothly at most polling stations and that residents have turned out in large numbers to vote in the mini poll.