The Linda Mwananchi team has announced that it will no longer hold its planned rally in Ol Kalou on Sunday, July 12, opting instead to take its campaign to Nyahururu Town.
In a statement issued on Saturday, July 11, the group said the decision was prompted by what it described as an alleged plan involving the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the government to delay the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
According to Linda Mwananchi, it had received information suggesting there were plans to trigger unrest in Ol Kalou and use the resulting security concerns as grounds to postpone the July 16 poll.
Linda Mwananchi cancels Ol Kalou tour. Photo: Courtesy.
The group alleged that plain-clothed police officers and armed individuals had been mobilised from Kiambu, Murang’a and Nakuru counties and positioned along the route of its convoy with the intention of provoking confrontations that could later be cited as justification for declaring a security emergency in the constituency.
As a result, Linda Mwananchi said it would not conduct any political activities in Ol Kalou from Sunday until after residents cast their votes in the by-election on July 16.
The group maintained that the change of venue was intended to avoid any developments that could be used to disrupt the electoral process, adding that it would instead proceed with its planned engagements in Nyahururu Town.
