• They were attacked just after they arrived at a Nyali residence of one of Ruto’s staunch allies in Mombasa, where the dinner meeting was being hosted.
• Agarwal and Tenge were in DP Ruto’s convoy that had arrived from the Moi International Airport.
Image: HANDOUT
Image: HANDOUT
Image: HANDOUT
Image: HANDOUT
Two politicians were beaten up by goons during a UDA dinner meeting of professionals from Mombasa on Saturday evening.
The two are eye specialist Sanjeev Agarwal, who is eyeing the Mombasa governor seat, and Mohamed ‘Tenge’ Salim, an ally of Deputy President William Ruto.
They were attacked shortly after they arrived at the Nyali residence of one of Ruto’s staunch allies in Mombasa, where the dinner meeting was being hosted.
Agarwal and Tenge were in DP Ruto’s convoy that had arrived from the Moi International Airport.
Agarwal’s personal assistant Bethwel Washington said trouble started at the airport when some UDA operatives tried to block the governor aspirant from being in the line to welcome the DP.
“There were some manoeuvres that surprised us. It was like a group of people were keen on ensuring that we don’t come out of the VIP room where we were. They tried to block us from welcoming the DP,” Washington said.
From the airport, the convoy snaked its way to English Point Marina where Ruto freshened up before heading to the meeting in Nyali.
Washington, who was driving Agarwal, said immediately Ruto emerged from his car, Agarwal, who was two cars behind Ruto’s, also jumped out to be at the line that was waiting to welcome the DP.
Abdulsalaam Kassim, who is eyeing the Mombasa senator seat, was in Tenge’s car further back.
Kassim said Agarwal was blocked from reaching the welcoming party.
“They blocked him and immediately surrounded the eye doctor. Then they started roughing him up, pushing him away from where the DP was,” Kassim said.
As he was being beaten up, Tenge, who was in his car, tried to come to his rescue after witnessing the incident from his car.
He was also beaten up.
Tenge, according to Kassim, Washington and other eyewitnesses, was being hit with a hammer, a metal bar and some wooden clubs.
The two were rushed to Jocham hospital after reporting the matter at Nyali police station.
Tenge's report was recorded under OB Number 47/18/12/2021 at about 8.57pm as a robbery with violence report.
He said he lost about Sh200,000 during the incident.
According to medical report from Jocham Hospital, Tenge sustained bruises in the face, back, abdomen, and lost the left lower molar tooth.
It is not clear what OB number Agarwal’s report was recorded.
Several of Agarwal and Tenge’s allies said the DP should intervene and address the violence meted out on some of his allies and supporters.
“It is an unfortunate incident that should not be taken lightly. It damages the image of the party,” Kassim said.
Nyali subcounty police commander Daniel Masaba could neither confirm nor deny the incident as calls to his phone went unanswered.
He did not respond to a text message sent to him.
On Sunday, a breakfast meeting was held at the same Nyali residence and reports indicated that there was to be another dinner meeting on Sunday evening.
A parallel meeting was held at the Hustler Centre in Nyali, opened by Agarwal.
“We strongly condemn the act of using youth and goons to harm Dr Sanjeev Agarwal and Mohamed Tenge in the presence of DP Ruto," read part of a text message that was being circulated by Tenge and Agarwal’s allies.
Tenge was Sunday morning recuperating at his house in Majengo while the whereabouts of Agarwal was not immediately clear.
Party supporters at the Nyali Hustler Centre called on DP Ruto to crack the whip, saying there are goons for hire in UDA who will end up ruining the image of the relatively new political outfit.
“The party is preaching peace but different things are happening behind the scenes,” a supporter said.
The supporters said Ruto should not attend meetings held at private residences.
“Especially if those meetings are about party matters and there are other politicians eyeing the same seat as the one hosting those meetings,” supporter Salim Jama said.
He said such moves paint a picture depicting that the DP may be in support of particular candidates.
“He has promised us free and fair nominations but he should be careful how he goes about his business because we might see things different from what he says,” Jama said.
Kassim posed,“How can a governor aspirant coming to welcome a party leader be ejected. What security threat does he pose?”
“The violence had been planned. We do not know under whose instructions the goon were acting but it is not something that should be taken lightly. It is a way of killing one politician in favour of another,” Kassim said.
Edited by A.N