This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
On Sunday, Lugari MP Ayub Savula found himself in a precarious situation when a crowd gathered at a petrol station in Butere Sub-county, demanding handouts as he fuelled his car.
According to Mr Savula, the crowd suddenly surged towards his vehicle, prompting police to arrive and whisk him away to Mumias Police Station, where he was held briefly before being released.
Mr Savula was accompanying Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford-Kenya's Moses Wetang'ula to a meeting at Nambale MP John Bunyasi's home, but Mr Mudavadi and Mr Wetang'ula had already proceeded to Nambale at the time of the incident.
Earlier reports had indicated that the MP was arrested for contravening Covid-19 rules by addressing a gathering at the petrol station, but Western Region Police Commander Peris Kimani confirmed that Mr Savula was released after being driven to Mumias Police Station.
Mr Mudavadi has been campaigning in the Western region ahead of the 2022 presidential polls, ruling out the possibility of joining President Uhuru Kenyatta's government and instead focusing on his presidential bid.
