The Malindi Member of Parliament, Aisha Jumwa was arrested on Tuesday night in connection with a fatal shooting incident at the home of an aspirant in Thursday’s Ganda ward by-election.
Jumwa was arrested at her home in Kakuyuni where she is said to have fled to after one of her close associates allegedly shot dead a man identified as an uncle to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party candidate, Reuben Mwamure Katana
Several other ODM supporters, including Magarini Member of Parliament, Michael Kingi, were injured in the incident that occurred in the presence of police officers providing security at the aspirant’s home.
The officers had been alerted that a campaign meeting was going on at Katana’s home despite the fact that official campaign time had ended on Monday.
But when they reached the home, the officers found Katana and Kingi among other leaders briefing ODM agents on Thursday’s mini poll arrangements and decided to remain there to provide security.
Moments later, Ms. Jumwa and her supporters arrived and caused a commotion, leading to the fatal shooting of Katana’s kin in the presence of the police officers before Ms. Jumwa fled to her home.
The Coast Regional Police Commander, Rashid Yakub, the Kilifi County Commissioner, Magu Mutindika and the Kilifi County Police Commander, Patrick Okeri then led a contingent of police officers to the home of Ms. Jumwa, but the controversial MP refused to open the gate for the officers.
The officers had to use force to gain entry and arrested Jumwa, who they are said to have been taken to Kilindini police station in Mombasa County, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Kingi, who spoke to journalists on Wednesday morning, said he had been roughed up by Jumwa’s supporters during the incident. A number of other ODM supporters were also injured.
Kingi condemned the incident and urged Jumwa to stop engaging in politics of violence as this did not augur well with her status.
“Jumwa is a daughter of Kilifi but she has to be told that she has no discipline,” said Kingi, who claimed to have been slapped several times by Jumwa’s supporters.
On Monday, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) urged aspirants and their supporters to remain peaceful following the closure of the official campaign period.
Last week, Jumwa alleged that a senior Mombasa politician and ODM’s national youth leader were planning to transport goons from Mombasa and Nairobi to cause chaos during the by-election with a view to intimidating voters from going to cast their ballots.
Jumwa, a renegade of the orange party, has vowed to defeat the party that sponsored her to Parliament through delivering a win for independent candidate Abdulrahman Omar, who is defending the seat he lost through a by-election.
By Emmanuel Masha
