Police in Western Kenya have dealt a blow to a section of Western Kenya politicians, after withdrawing an earlier issued permit for a public consultative forum Saturday.
According to Mumias CIOCS Albert Chebii, the decision was arrived at due to emerging fears of insecurities.
”This is to notify you that this office has cancelled your permit to carry out the above exercise purpotedly scheduled to take place on 18/01/2020…”Chebii wrote in a letter addressed to the Western Kenya Regional Development Consultative Forum.
The situation in the Western Kenya county of Kakamega became extremely tense after advocates of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and their opponents announced intentions of holding parallel rallies to deliberate on the controversial brainchild of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The pro-BBI meeting was organized by governor Wycliffe Oparanya alongside Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli.
Some Luhya leaders such as ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula, however, sidelined themselves from the BBI forums, owing to their dissatisfaction with the entire BBI process.
Others who have shunned the BBI process include former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali.
They also allege that Oparanya’s meeting will be a platform to crown him as the Luhya community political kingpin.
Oparanya’s meeting will be held at the Bukhungu Stadium.
The first consultative meeting on the BBI was held on Friday in Kisii County, with Raila gracing the occassion.