There was a standoff at the Bomas of Kenya between Usawa Kwa Wote party presidential aspirant Mwangi wa Iria and police after Wa Iria threatened to strike and restricted movement in and out of the place.
Wa Iria was protesting the move by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to bar him from contesting in the August election.
Wa Iria stopped his car right in front of the Bomas of Kenya gate, blocking the entrance to the place for other motorists from accessing the facility.
#NgigeUpdates
— Moses Ngige (@MosesNgigeKE) May 30, 2022
Ata mkileta Majeshi ta Russia sitoki hapa - Murang'a gvn Mwangi wa Iria blocks Bomas of Kenya entrance after being left out of list of presidential aspirants seeking clearance. ???? pic.twitter.com/dmVPusrTDL
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Wa Iria demanded that the IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati comes out and address them, explaining why they were locked out of the August election yet they complied with all the requirements.
When the police officers manning the gate asked him to move his vehicle to allow others to pass, Wa Iria declined and said nobody would make him move, not even Russian soldiers.
“I not moving out of here until Chebukati comes here and addresses us. They use the police to intimidate us but we will not budge. You can call for back up from the Kenya Airforce, Kenya Navy or even the soldiers Russia sent to Ukraine but I will not move,” Wa Iria said.
The Murang’a Governor who was flanked by his supporter claimed the commission had shown favouritism to some candidates and wanted to frustrate his efforts to vie.
Wa Iria alleged IEBC wanted to shortchange and rig him out already saying he only submitted signatures from 9 counties yet he has video evidence of IEBC officials perusing through the documents he presented.
“We cannot start rigging that far… We even have photos of your people going through item per item with our people,” Wa Iria protested.
“They have deliberately removed my name today by throwing them in the toilet. How comes no one has told me anything?”
Wa Iria and his supporter insisted his name had to be cleared for the August election otherwise there won't be an election.
"...you are threatening Kenyans...we will stay put...No Wa Iria no election," they chanted.
Mwangi Wa Iria protests at gates of the Bomas of Kenya.
— Brian Oketch Amwai ???????? (@AmwaiBrian) May 30, 2022
He has been locked out of the premises@lookuptv @lookupradioke pic.twitter.com/1XPpvcNUPN