The government has described the violence witnessed at the Masinde Muliro gardens during the launch of Cord co-principal Moses Wetangula's presidential
bid on Saturday as, " a systematic pattern of violence being perpetuated by a clique of political elements in public places".
Government spokesman Erick Kiraithe said the violence exhibited by two political groups at the event is most unfortunate and cannot be tolerated.
Addressing the media on Sunday,
Kiraithe said as the government sympathises with those injured in the incident, the state will not tolerate politicians using violence as a political tool.
“On Saturday, Kenyans just witnessed in utter disbelief as members of parliament disrupted solemn business of parliament presumably to score political points. We want to send a loud and clear message to politicians using this as a political tool that this cannot and shall not be tolerated,” he said.
He said a few weeks earlier, the country was treated to another orchestrated political violence when hired goons attacked supporters of a certain candidate in recently concluded Malindi by-elections.
“What the government reads from all these well-choreographed incidents is that some politicians and political groups in this country are using violence and chaos as a means to achieve their nebulous political goals as we near general elections, he said.
"We all remember too painfully well the loss of life, destruction of property, pain and suffering we went through as a result of post election violence, let us not go back to that path again", he added
He dismissed claims that the government and other relevant institutions especially security systems had shown laxity in prosecuting those guilty of political intolerance.
The chaotic ceremony at Muliro gardens was disrupted for nearly half an hour as police lobbed teargas at the main dais forcing the leaders to be whisked away.
Two people were seriously injured and rushed to hospital after a stampede as people scampered for safety.