Photo Courtesy K24

Raila Odinga’s 2022 presidential running mate Martha Karua's rally in Kisii county ended abruptly after teargas exploded at the podium.

In a video seen by K24 Digital, the teargas canister exploded moments as the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential running mate was taking to the stage to address thousands of residents who had turned up.

The Narc-Kenya leader was rushed to safety together with Raila Odinga’s wife Ida Odinga who was in attendance.

Thousands of residents who had gathered at the stadium were forced to scamper for safety with some breaking chairs and throwing the meeting into disarray.

Taking to social media, the ODM Director of Communication Philip Etale alleged that a police officer in plain cloth was the one responsible for the mayhem.

“The incident at Gusii Stadium where a suspected police officer in plain clothes lobbed a tear-gas canister at the dais just as our deputy presidential candidate Martha Karua had begun addressing wananchi is uncalled for and the culprit should be arrested and made to face the law,” Etale said in a Twitter post.

Before the arrival of Martha Karua and Mama Ida, there was tension between supporters of Kisii Governor James Ongwae and those of Simba Arati who is eying the governorship position.

At one point, the youths clashed with the police officers at the entrance to Kisii Stadium as pro-Arati supporters tried to force their way into the stadium. Source: K24

IEA Correspondent

Congolese people have finally buried the only known remains, a tooth of their independence hero Patrice Lumumba. This took place in the capital Kinshashasa.

Patrice Lumumba died in the hands of Belgian-backed secessionist rebels. 61 years ago. He was killed by firing squad on 16^th January 1961 at the Southeastern province of Katanga after being deposed as prime minister the year before just after Congolese independence.

Thousands turned up for the funeral. The occasion was attended by the President of neighbouring Congo Republic, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Belgium Foreign Minister and several African Ambassadors.

“Finally, the Congolese people can have the honour of offering a burial to their illustrious prime minister,” President Felix Tshisekedi said. “We are ending … mourning we started 61 years ago.”

This comes during 62^nd anniversary of D R Congo’s independence, a time when Patrice Lumumba gave powerful speech condemning 75 years of Belgium’s colonisation of Congo. Belgium King Leopold 11 was the ruler of Congo and millions of people lost their lives.

King Phillipe visited D R Congo recently and acknowledged the racist colonial abuses although he didn’t apologise. After dying in a firing squad, the body of Patrice Lumumba was never found. A Belgium police officer, Gerard Soete claimed he dissolved much of it in accid, set it on fire and took Patrice Lumumba’s tooth which is what was returned and was handed over to the family this month.

One of Lumumba’s granddaughters wrote on a letter she had written for Lumumba during the funeral.

“Your return home, the honours you are receiving here are a page of the history you continue to write,” one of his grandaughters said in a letter to Lumumba that she read at the funeral. “With you, today, Africa is writing its own history,” she said.

The rest of Africa is still campaigning to get body parts of their heroes and heroines in Europe returned to the continent. Lumumba’s case is one in many and the return a step in good direction.

Ten years ago when Kibwezi West MP Patrick Musimba announced his bid as an Independent candidate, political analysts dismissed him as a non-starter.

Today, he is not only a front-runner in the Makueni governor race but is also giving Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior, the Wiper gubernatorial candidate headache, having won the MP seat twice as an Independent candidate against many odds. 

Musimba set the stage for a titanic battle with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka when he launched his bid on Friday. The following day, Kilonzo Jnr took on Musimba, saying even if he does not capture the seat, it should not go to the MP, whom he portrayed as a fraudster.

“We cannot leave Makueni to fraudsters,” he said at a church event without elaborating.

 The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has also cleared real estate mogul David Masika (ODM), scholar Emmanuel Mutisya (United Democratic Alliance) and Anderson Mwanza (Independent) to run in the race. 

Telling from the campaigns they have mounted, however, they are seen as underdogs compared to the two youthful lawmakers. Whereas Kilonzo Jnr banks on Kalonzo’s strong network in the county, Musimba is banking on the support of local allies of Azimio-One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his Kenya Kwanza Alliance challenger William Ruto.

The highlight of the thanksgiving ceremony held at Makindu market was Musimba’s endorsement by Azimio and UDA candidates led by Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, the UDA Woman Rep candidate. They said Musimba was the best candidate to succeed Governor Kivutha Kibwana.

The lawmaker, who enjoys a near-fanatical following in his constituency, has lined up a  feeding programme targeting all local primary schools ahead of the August 9 election.  He plans to address water shortage and food security if elected.

 Buoyed by the endorsements, Musimba set himself on a collision path with Kalonzo, who has been rallying the region behind Kilonzo Jr. While campaigning for Raila in Makueni last week, the Wiper boss commended Kilonzo Jnr alongside Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua and Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo “for standing firm” when he blew hot and cold on joining Raila’s camp. People Daily