McDonald Mariga, a footballer-turned-politician, says he will not be intimidated by those who he claims are trying to derail his parliamentary ambitions in Kibra.
This comes after goons allegedly disrupted his rally on Monday and assaulted him, fracturing his arm.
“You see they have broken my hand but they will not intimidate me,” he said in a video seen by this writer.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate for Kibra blamed the alleged attack on rival politicians.
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“We’ve been doing peaceful campaigns here, but there are some politicians who are sending young people to injure me,” he said.
Mariga also added that he had filed a police report to ensure that the offenders were brought to justice.
“If they think they will intimidate me by beating me and my supporters, they are wrong. We will campaign even harder and have set our eyes on the prize.”
“This is not the Kibra we want.”
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Mariga ran for the Kibra seat in the 2019 by-elections following the death of Ken Okoth. This year, he will be competing against Okoth and former teacher Paul Orero.
According to a research by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), six counties are extremely likely to face electoral violence during the 2022 General Elections.
Nairobi, Nakuru, Kericho, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Mombasa are among the counties likely to witness electoral violence before, during, or after the polls.
“Six counties recorded an inflated vulnerability for electoral violence in the upcoming General Elections. The major impending threat being pre-existing conflicts around issues of inequalities in the distribution of resources, high population density in informal settlements and infiltration of organized criminal gangs and groups,” the report says.
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According to the survey, 10 counties are at a medium-high risk of electoral violence in the next elections, while 31 counties are expected to have calm elections.
Bomet, Samburu, Nandi, Meru, Isiolo, Baringo, Lamu, Laikipia, Marsabit, and Narok counties are in the top ten.
The research highlights the formation and reemergence of organized criminal gangs, particularly adolescent groups, gangs, goons, and militias.
It also claims that drug and substance misuse is widespread, and that this could be a fuel for electoral violence.
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It also notes that the use of hate speech, propaganda, and political rhetoric in public areas and on social media platforms is on the rise, which is a primary trigger of election violence.
Kenyans, on the other hand, have high confidence in the ability of both state and non-state actors to deal with potential crises, according to the survey.
Nairobi County is considered as the epicenter of political contestation, with considerable ramifications for other counties, according to the report.
Mradi, Utalii ward, Githurai Market, Thika Road, Mlango Kubwa, Kariobangi North-Soko stage, Kawangware-Congo, Kangemi-Maumau, Dagorreti-Kabiria, Wanyee, Hamza, Jericho, Kayole, Umama-Komarok, Masimba, Soweto, Mukuru Kwa Njenga/Reuben, Choka, are considered the most unsafe areas in Nairobi.
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