This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
On November 29, 2019, a teargas canister was thrown into a crowd at the Inua Mama rally in Wajir County, disrupting the event and causing panic.
Police quickly responded to the scene and arrested a suspect, who was later identified as a man from Kibera in Nairobi.
According to Wajir County Commander Stephen Ng'etich, the suspect was arrested as he tried to flee the scene during the chaos.
“Today we arrested a man believed to have lobbed the teargas canister at the crowd during Inua Mama event as he tried to escape,” said Mr Ng'etich.
Investigations are ongoing, and police have discovered that the suspect and three others had flown to Wajir from Nairobi via a Jetways plane.
It is unclear why the four individuals traveled to Wajir, but authorities suspect that there may have been a plot to disrupt the rally, which was held at Qorahay grounds.
A taxi driver who drove the four to the venue is also in police custody and is assisting with the investigation.
The incident has attracted criticism from women legislators under Inua Mama, who have vowed to pursue justice through the courts to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
