The National Police Service (NPS) has warned that firm action will be taken against people found responsible for the violence that disrupted a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) meeting in Nembure, Embu County.
The warning followed chaotic scenes at Nembure Stadium on Saturday, September 12, where Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was presiding over the public meeting.
According to the police, a group of people who had not been invited to the meeting attempted to enter the venue, leading to a confrontation with security officers.
NPS said officers moved to disperse the group after what it described as an unlawful attempt to breach the meeting. Several suspects were arrested at the scene as police worked to restore order.
The confrontation, however, left one person dead and several others injured. Police also reported that six vehicles were set on fire, with property worth millions of shillings destroyed during the chaos.
“The National Police Service condemns in the strongest possible terms the outrageous and criminal conduct of a group of individuals who attempted to storm a public meeting presided over by the Deputy President, H.E. Prof. Kithure Kindiki, in Nembure, Embu County,” the service stated.
The police have since launched investigations to establish how the confrontation started, how it escalated and the events that led to the death, injuries and destruction of property.
NPS said it would work to identify everyone who took part in the violence and ensure that those found responsible face the law.
The service also issued a strong warning against similar acts of violence in the future.
“Let this serve as an unequivocal warning: any individual found to have participated in this or any similar act of lawlessness will be pursued relentlessly. Stern action will be taken in accordance with the law. There will be no exceptions,” police said.
The violence reportedly began after groups of local youths were denied entry into the stadium during the UDA gathering.
The situation later turned into running battles involving crowds and police officers, forcing security personnel to evacuate Kindiki from the venue.
The Deputy President later condemned the violence and called for action against those responsible for the disruption and destruction.
He also directed UDA leaders in Embu to assess the damage caused by the clashes and coordinate efforts to respond to those affected.
The police investigation is now expected to provide a clearer picture of what happened at the meeting and determine the responsibility of those arrested or identified in connection with the incident.
