Raila’s Campaign Billboard Destroyed in Bomet

A campaign billboard for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua has been vandalized a day after it was erected.

The billboard was discovered in taters on Friday morning, but it remained unclear whether it was as a result of vandalism by hooligans or strong winds.

Other campaign posters, such as those for United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates featuring a photo of the party’s presidential flag-bearer, Deputy President William Ruto, were unaffected.

Mr Joseph Ngeno, the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) coordinator in Bomet County, Mr Michael Ngeno, the ODM contender for the Chepalungu parliamentary seat, and Ms Irene Amayo, the party’s Nyangores ward rep hopeful, have all called for an investigation by the police.

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“It is important that the police investigate the circumstances under which the poster was torn only a few hours after it was erected. If it is a case of political intolerance, then action should be taken against the culprits,” said Mr Joseph Ngeno.

He maintained that the billboard was interfered with by intolerant individuals as other posters belonging to other parties remained intact.

“It is important for our people to embrace democracy and allow politicians to compete on marketing their policies to the voters without any fear of intimidation or violence being meted out on them,” he said.

Mr Michael Ng’eno on his part urged aspirants to conduct their campaigns in peace even as the polls draw closer.

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“ODM candidates for the various seats in Bomet County are looking forward to a peaceful, violence-free campaign window ahead of the elections,” he said.

“We commit to compete based on issues devoid of intimidation or name calling.”

Ms Hellen Taplelei, a Wiper Democratic Alliance candidate for the Bomet woman representative seat, and Ms Jesca Cherono Langat, an independent candidate for the same seat, have both appealed for political tolerance during this campaign period.

“We should allow all the candidates, in the spirit of democracy, to conduct their campaigns in an environment that is free. Our people have lately shown a lot of political maturity by embracing candidates for the various positions without looking at the party tickets they are flying,” Ms Taplelei said.

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Musa Imamai, the sub-county police commander for Bomet Central, has confirmed that no complaint has been submitted in his office.

“Even before a complaint is made, we are looking into the matter as it is not clear yet whether strong winds tore the poster apart or it was the work of political players,” Mr Imamai said.

Earlier on in the week, a billboard belonging Dr Ruto was allegedly torn down in Kisumu.

It was, however, said that the billboard was intact and the images doing rounds on social media were taken as it was being put up.